Using the Trump administration’s announcement of tariffs against China as a hook, the CBS Evening News ran one of the weirder items in recent memory. After watching this story on the National People’s Congress, reasonable individuals are left to wonder whether the network should eventually change its name to XiBS.
Look at the video package submitted by correspondent Anna Coren (click "expand" for transcript):
ANNA COREN: A show of strength outside the Great Hall of the People, as soldiers from the People's Liberation Army marched across Tiananmen Square adorned with flags. They are part of the almost 3,000 delegates who arrived in Beijing for the opening of the National People's Congress, China's most important political event of the year.
CHINESE SOLDIER: Thank you, thank you.
COREN: But hanging over this highly scripted and choreographed event, the escalating tensions with the United States and China's defiance.
Excuse me, sir, are you worried about the U.S.-China trade war?
Do you think that President XI and President Trump can make amends?
Inside the hall, all eyes anxiously waited for the main event.
The National People's Congress is very much focused on the economy. But this year, it has been overshadowed by geopolitical events, with the U.S.-China trade war taking center stage.
China's leader was warmly greeted. Only yesterday, XI's government hit back at the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs against agriculture. While the Foreign Ministry spokesman issued a warning, quote: "If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we are ready to fight till the end." As President XI watched on, his deputy delivered his address. While China faces economic challenges, its leadership says it won't back down. This confident posture defined Beijing's cold spring weather and the geopolitical storm clouds that are forming.
CBS inexplicably treats the “National People’s Congress” as if it were an actual legislature composed of elected representatives acting on behalf of their constituents, as is the standard in Western democracies. But that’s simply not the case.
By constitutional law, the NPC accords leadership to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). With the CCP holding 86% of the seats in this body (the rest going to CCP-approved minority parties), it is clear that the NPC is a CCP rubber stamp. Coren’s description of the event as “highly scripted and choreographed” obliterates any remaining doubt.
Tariffs seemed to be an afterthought in this egregious video package, which is more tightly focused on hyping China. Coren’s various praises of China’s strength and confidence raise more questions than they answer.
One wonders whether this is the latest symptom of the identity crisis that has fully engulfed the beleaguered Evening News.
Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report, as aired on the CBS Evening News on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025:
JOHN DICKERSON: The trade war started as the world's largest legislature was convening in China.
MAURICE DuBOIS: Nearly 3,000 members. Anna Coren is in Beijing.
ANNA COREN: A show of strength outside the Great Hall of the People, as soldiers from the People's Liberation Army marched across Tiananmen Square adorned with flags. They are part of the almost 3,000 delegates who arrived in Beijing for the opening of the National People's Congress, China's most important political event of the year.
CHINESE SOLDIER: Thank you, thank you.
COREN: But hanging over this highly scripted and choreographed event, the escalating tensions with the United States and China's defiance.
Excuse me, sir, are you worried about the U.S.-China trade war?
Do you think that President XI and President Trump can make amends?
Inside the hall, all eyes anxiously waited for the main event.
The National People's Congress is very much focused on the economy. But this year, it has been overshadowed by geopolitical events, with the U.S.-China trade war taking center stage.
China's leader was warmly greeted. Only yesterday, XI's government hit back at the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs against agriculture. While the Foreign Ministry spokesman issued a warning, quote: "If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we are ready to fight till the end." As President XI watched on, his deputy delivered his address. While China faces economic challenges, its leadership says it won't back down. This confident posture defined Beijing's cold spring weather and the geopolitical storm clouds that are forming.
DICKERSON: And Anna Coren joins us now from Beijing. Anna, with all of those economic headwinds that China is facing, why are they pushing back so hard?
CORIN: Well, John, China is basically saying that it won't be bullied, and this act of defiance we are seeing from China' is because it’s had six years to prepare for this. Remember the trade war began back in 2018. China has also become a global leader in key industries. It is less reliant on the U.S. So despite its economic challenges, China is saying to the U.S., we are prepared.
DuBOIS: And Anna, the Chinese just announced a big 7% increase in military spending. Is that that setting off concerns?
CORIN: Absolutely, Maurice. Compare that to other countries, and it is significantly higher. You've got to Taiwan, the South China Sea, where China is trying to develop its sphere of influence. The United States and itsallies, they are concerned, and remember that there are members of the trump administration who believe that China poses the greatest threat to the world.
DICKERSON: Anna Corin in Beijing for us. Thanks, Anna.
