Steve Tsang , director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London , observed that the media was hyping Beijing 's heightened response to the outbreak as if Xi Jinping had personally ordered it..As part of the central government 's `` bifurcated approach to diffuse discontent '' , while the propaganda machinery was going into `` overdrive ... to protect [ Xi Jinping 's ] reputation '' , citizens were permitted to criticize local officials so long as they did not `` question the basic legitimacy of the party '' .
Media exaggerated Beijing 's amplified response to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic .