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While Donald Trump has done more to earn a reputation of being unpredictable, Xi Jinping has spent the past few months alternating between being hostile and friendly toward his trade war sparring partner. (Nikkei Montage/Getty Images)
China up close

Baffled by Trump, Chinese propagandists waffle ahead of Osaka

Surprise TV airing of pro-US romance movie reflects Xi Jinping's wavering

KATSUJI NAKAZAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer | China

TOKYO -- Heading into the Group of 20 summit in Osaka and a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been struggling to come up with a coherent strategy. This inner conflict was reflected in two conflicting messages in movies aired by Chinese state TV.

On June 19, China Central Television dropped its originally scheduled program to broadcast a pro-U.S. film from 20 years ago.

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