The war of words between Chinese officials and President Donald Trump has been furious recently as each side tries to push its own agenda amid the coronavirus pandemic. But it would be a mistake to view this crossfire as mutually retaliatory. These are two separate PR campaigns with different objectives.

Rare public discord between two Chinese officials this week has led observers to question if the spat is a sign of disagreements in Beijing over the party’s messaging, as tensions rise with the U.S.