In what has become traditional season's greetings, every year about this time, there are Western media reports about China pushing back against Christmas.
They cite as "evidence" for this rumors about local officials forcing the removal of Christmas decorations or Christmas-related goods.
That the government in Langfang, Hebei province, was banning Christmas goods was one such rumor, which is a misrepresentation of a local pre-holiday campaign aimed at street peddlers' unauthorized occupation of public spaces.
These reports turn a blind eye to the ubiquitous Christmas decorations and festive dining in many cities.
Such biased reports simply serve as a means to reinforce the stereotype the West is trying to peddle of the atheist Chinese authorities being anti-religion.
Not to mention that such reports feed the misperception that an increasingly assertive China giving a cold shoulder to the entire West. No wonder the otherwise easily dismissed rumors have found some receptive believers this time — despite the Chinese government having clearly affirmed its commitment to the rule of law, and the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religious belief.