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Activity Category: Media Engagement Activity

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for Malaysian Media

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On November 18, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia published a commentary across multiple Malaysian outlets asserting that Taiwan’s “reunification” with the PRC — discourse that China has consistently pushed, but that does not accord with Taiwan’s history or with the will of the vast majority of Taiwanese — is “inevitable.” The piece, written by Chinese Ambassador Ouyang Yujing, appeared in Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press, Oriental Daily, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Guang Ming Daily, The Star, Malay Mail, and Malaysia-China Insight. In the commentary, Ouyang accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (民主進步黨) of refusing to recognize the 1992 Consensus — a highly contested framework for managing the cross-strait relationship — and of the “obstinate pursuit” of what he called “Taiwan independence.” The ambassador claimed that unspecified “external forces,” which he said were obstructing reunification, “will also be swept aside by the tide of history.” Meanwhile, he praised Malaysia’s government for its adherence to the one-China policy.

Chinese Diplomat Runs Article in Berlin Paper Ahead of EU-China Summit

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The Chinese ambassador to Germany published a commentary in the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung on July 24, 2025, the opening day and closing day of the 25th EU-China summit in Beijing. The piece, titled “The Common Interests Between China and Germany Far Outweigh Their Differences” (中德共同利益遠大於分歧), rejected the EU’s characterization of China as partner, competitor, and systemic rival — a framework established in the European Commission’s 2019 Strategic Outlook — calling it “inconsistent with facts and self-contradictory” (既與事實不符，也自相矛盾). The ambassador also commented on the war in Ukraine, writing that China’s position emphasized dialogue and negotiation as the only viable way out, while noting that China had launched a “Friends for Peace” group at the UN with participation from some European countries — though it was unclear which countries from the EU were involved in the group, which had primarily drawn participation from the Global South. The 2025 EU-China summit, which marked the 50 years of EU-China diplomatic relations, was scaled back from two days to one at Beijing’s request.

Chinese Ambassador Criticizes Tariffs in German Media

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On April 24, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Germany published an article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung titled “Tariff Abuse Is Turning Back the Clock of History” (濫施關稅是開歷史倒車), criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on global imports. The article referenced the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, a U.S. protectionist measure that raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods and triggered retaliatory tariffs worldwide, contributing to the Great Depression. Deng accused the US of prioritizing its own interests over global development and characterized American tariff policy as “blatant protectionism and unilateral bullying.” The article, clearly intended to encourage German and European support against the trade actions of the Trump administration, called for China and Europe to strengthen cooperation in maintaining a rules-based multilateral trading system.

Chinese Embassy Pressures Montenegro Newspaper

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The Chinese Embassy in Montenegro demanded that the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti remove an interview with Taiwan representative to Hungary Liu Shih-chung on March 11, 2024, one day after its publication. The interview, published March 10, covered Taiwan’s democratic development, the impact of the Russo-Ukraine War on the Taiwan Strait, and criticized China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Balkans, alleging that it had caused debt crises and encouraged corruption. Vijesti rejected the embassy’s request, stating it is an independent and free news outlet and that the content “cannot be removed.” The incident represents direct Chinese official pressure on foreign media to censor content related to Taiwan.

Guangzhou Hosts Cross-Strait and Southeast Asia Media Tour

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More than 40 Chinese-language journalists and creators from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia took part in the “2025 Cross-Strait and Southeast Asian Chinese-Language Media Guangzhou Tour” (两岸暨港澳·东南亚华文媒体广州行) on December 2, 2025, in Guangzhou. The three-day program, themed “New Quality in the Bay Area, New Colors in Yangcheng” (湾区新质 羊城新彩), brought participants to tech parks, industrial zones, and cultural landmarks — emphasizing the official framing of the “Greater Bay Area,” a development vision including southern Chinese cities along with Hong Kong and Macau. The event was hosted by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (海峡两岸关系协会), or ARATS, and the Guangzhou Taiwan Affairs Office (广州市台办), together with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Guangdong People’s Government (廣東省人民政府台灣事務辦公室) and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (國務院台灣事務辦公室). Ma Xiaoguang (马晓光), vice-president of ARATS, said the event aimed to showcase Guangzhou’s development and promote “telling China’s story” (讲好中国故事). At the launch ceremony, the original song “Hand in Hand” (心手相牵), which coverage by the CCP’s official People’s Daily called “a collaboration between Guangzhou and Taiwan,” was released, along with a propaganda micro-documentary series. Among the participants in the event, one report mentioned the presence of Li Yixiu (李易修), a pro-China Taiwanese influencer known as “History Brother” (歷史哥), and a “Taiwan youth” identified as Yang Shuping (杨舒评).

NDR and CGTN Air Joint Talk Show

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In June 2017, the German public broadcaster NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk)  launched a joint talk show with CGTN (中國環球電視網), the English-language channel of China Central Television, to be aired twice a year. Called “Dialog mit China” (Dialogue with China), the hour-long programs featured NDR television chief Andreas Cichowicz and CGTN host Yang Rui (楊銳) co-moderating discussions on political and economic topics with guests from both countries. In June 2019, an episode recorded in Guangzhou focused on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development plans, German business investment in high-tech sectors, and “one country, two systems” governance, aired on the Television Station, creating backlash. Critics, including German lawmaker Margarete Bause said that the format avoided human rights violations, Hong Kong’s mass protests, and Tiananmen anniversary commemorations despite their contemporaneous relevance.

Chinese Ambassador Meets Montenegro Minister of Media

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On December 5, 2025, Chen Xufeng (陈绪峰), China’s ambassador to Montenegro, paid a visit to Media and Culture Minister of Montenegro Tamara Vujović. According to a readout from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Chen said that the “traditional friendship” between China and Herzegovina has lasted for a long time, and people-to-people exchanges have “achieved remarkable results.” China, said Chen, attaches “great importance to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Montenegro in the field of culture and media,” with a series of related events planned for the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. The MFA readout quoted Vujović as having praised the achievements of “Chinese-style modernization.” According to Hungarian reports, Vujović and Chen were also guests at a cultural festival in the town of Herceg Novi in September 2025. 

Deutsche Welle-CCTV Cooperation Agreement

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In August and September 2014, Deutsche Welle (德國之聲) Director General Peter Limbourg announced cooperation agreements with China Central Television (中央電視台), including co-productions in music and business programming. Just months later, in early 2015, Deutsche Welle announced it would temporarily suspend the partnership after it came under scrutiny from the German Bundestag, according to testimony given by journalist Su Yutong before a hearing of the US Congressional-Executive Commission in 2016. Su’s CECC testimony alleged that Deutsche Welle had softened the stance of the network’s Chinese-language coverage on China after a meeting between Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde and Peter Limbourg. The announced 2014 cooperation between Deutsche Welle and CCTV also drew strong criticism at the time from Reporters Without Borders Germany, which called it “incompatible” with DW’s mission, noting CCTV’s role in China’s “repressive apparatus” against journalists.

Xi Jinping Pens Article for Die Welt

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In July 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) published a signed article titled “To Make the World a Better Place” in the German newspaper Die Welt ahead of his state visit to Germany and attendance at the G20 Hamburg Summit. The article, distributed by Xinhua News Agency (新華社), outlined the bilateral cooperation between China and Germany and called for “strategic synergy” between China’s Made in China 2025 initiative—a state-led industrial policy aimed at upgrading China’s manufacturing capabilities in high-tech sectors—and Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategy, which focuses on digitalization and smart manufacturing. Xi emphasized expanding Belt and Road cooperation and described the relationship as a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” building on language from his first visit to Germany as head of state in 2014.