
X Marks the Spot
Elon Musk’s new messaging app was built with Chinese users in mind. It was censored before it ever reached them, with related news coverage from state media also pulled down.

In October 2025, Fu Hua (傅華), president of China’s official Xinhua News Agency, met in Beijing with Alphonse Hardel, managing director at Reuters, the London-based international news agency. According to Xinhua’s report, Fu described Reuters as one of the earliest Western news agencies to establish ties with Xinhua, citing a news cooperation agreement first signed between the two in 1957, covering news exchange and photo services. Fu called for continued cooperation “on the basis of mutual respect and shared benefits.” Hardel said that both agencies share concerns about the responsible use of artificial intelligence in news and communications and expressed a desire to continue the partnership.
