Heavy rains and flooding kill at least 34 people in and near Beijing
NPR Online News2 days
Beijing Floods Kill at Least 38 as Heavy Rains Hit Northern China
Above: A road is seen at a flooded area in Miyun district, on the outskirts of Beijing on July 28, 2025. Image copyright: Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
China has made immense strides not only in disaster preparedness but also in mitigating the threat posed by climate change, with the country recognizing that natural disasters are being exacerbated by human activity. With the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, China has reaffirmed its commitment to the common good by being a climate ally, so that no other nations might suffer these same sorts of disasters.
Anti-China narrative
In spite of their PR-friendly talk on climate change, China is one of the world's largest contributors to climate change and is perhaps the most consequential actor in the fight against climate change. China has only accelerated its use of coal power plants, making its green promises a total sham. Over half a billion people live on the coast of China, and are vulnerable to rising sea levels if strides are not made soon.