This paper addresses China’s challenges to the current international order. We assess the present stage of competition between the West and China for the “hearts and minds” of people worldwide and provide explanations for why certain audiences find China favourable and want to align with it over the West. To do so, we consult unique… Continue reading China’s challenge to the Western-led international order
In the lead-up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, Xi Jinping, China’s supreme leader, embarked on a charm offensive tour of three European capitals, touting the stability of China-Europe ties amidst escalating global geopolitical tensions. China’s state media covered Xi’s Europe trip with celebratory enthusiasm, largely sidestepping inconvenient topics such as China’s intensifying… Continue reading Chinese Media Watch: Having It Both Ways – Xi Jinping On Charm Offensive in Europe Shortly Before Welcoming Putin in Beijing
In Chinese state media, Sweden’s recent NATO accession is discussed with a negative overtone based on general sentiments towards the military bloc. Unsurprisingly, Russian state-promoted narratives on NATO’s purpose to maintain US hegemony and seek confrontation are widely reproduced. Meanwhile, NATO-critical voices from Sweden itself are also amplified to depict the accession as unpopular among… Continue reading Chinese Media Watch: NATO’s Nordic Expansion Will Make Europe Less Safe, China’s State Media Tells Us
Since late 2023, the Houthi attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping have led to growing concerns about the global spillover effects of the tense geopolitical situation in the Middle East. With around 15% of global trade passing through the Red Sea, the region is particularly important to global maritime interconnectivity. The decisions of major shipping… Continue reading Chinese Media Watch: The Red Sea Conflict in China’s State Media – Blaming the West for Everything as Top Priority
As might be expected, Chinese media reactions to Taiwan’s general elections earlier this month have focused on one question: does the victorious Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have legitimacy to govern Taiwan? This apparently refers to President-elect Lai Ching-te’s failure to receive more votes than the two opposition candidates, combined, as well as to the opposition… Continue reading Chinese Media Watch: “DPP Does Not Represent Taiwan Anymore”, China’s State Media Tells Us
