December 9, 2025 – China Headlines

Story gist: An earthquake occurred in the eastern offshore area of Aomori Prefecture, Japan, causing 139 local schools to suspend classes.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets (Xinhua) frame the story around the Chinese embassy’s reminder to Chinese citizens in Japan to guard against earthquake disasters, emphasizing expatriate safety. Center outlets (First Finance) provide neutral factual reporting on the earthquake and school suspensions. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any focus on Japanese government response or local resilience perspectives.

Story gist: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her visit to China.

Bias summary: Left-leaning CCP News frames the event as Han Zheng meeting the German FM, centering Chinese leadership. Center-leaning DW headlines the German FM’s China visit and her statement to expand Germany-China partnership, emphasizing reciprocity. No right-leaning coverage; that perspective is absent, potentially omitting amid concerns over China’s influence or human rights.

Story gist: Former President Trump stated U.S. inflation problems are largely resolved and announced a $12 billion agricultural relief plan. After his criticism of agricultural equipment prices, Deere and Tractor Supply shares fell.

Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning headlines in cluster. Center outlet Investing.com emphasizes market fallout, framing Trump’s price criticism as causing Deere and Tractor Supply stock declines with neutral financial tone. Absent left perspectives omit or critically contextualize Trump’s claims; missing right views lack emphasis on inflation resolution or aid benefits.

Story gist: Japan accused a Chinese warship of using fire-control radar to lock onto a Japanese military aircraft. China rejected the accusation, calling it hype that distorts facts.

Bias summary: Left-leaning chinanews frames Japan as hyping ‘radar lock-on,’ inverting truth with malicious intent, using accusatory tone. Center DW neutrally reports Japan’s accusation and Beijing’s refutation without emphasis. Right-leaning Phoenix depicts incident escalating, with Japan’s government quibbling evasively. Pro-Japan perspective absent across outlets.

Story gist: China Social Sciences Net published an article titled ‘Continuously Promoting Step-by-Step Advancement of Socialist Modernization.’ The piece discusses China’s strategy for gradual progress toward socialist modernization.

Bias summary: Left-leaning China Social Sciences Net frames the story positively, emphasizing steady, hierarchical progress in socialist modernization with supportive tone. No center-leaning coverage exists, omitting neutral factual reporting. No right-leaning coverage appears, absenting critical perspectives on China’s state-controlled economy or political system.