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Activity Type: Placement of PRC Party-State Content

Chinese Commercial News Runs Xinhua Report on Foreign Minister Wang Yi

On March 8, 2025, the Chinese Commercial News (菲律賓商報), a Chinese-language newspaper based in Manila with close links to state-run media in the PRC, reposted an official report from China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. The article relayed remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) made during a press conference on the sidelines of China’s “Two Sessions,” focusing on maritime disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The report adopted Xinhua’s original wording and framing without alteration, including criticism of the Philippines and references to the role of “external forces” (域外勢力) — a typical framing used by the Chinese Communist Party to blame tensions over its policies and actions on outside actors, including the United States.

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for French Paper After China-EU Summit

On July 25, 2018, Les Échos published an article by Chinese Ambassador to France Zhai Jun (翟隽) titled “China’s Position on Avoiding a Global Trade War,” following the 20th China-EU Leaders’ Meeting held on July 16, 2018 in Beijing. In the article, Zhai accused the United States of “implementing protectionism under the banner of its own priorities” and characterized US actions as “wielding the tariff bludgeon,” claiming these measures “forced China to retaliate.” The ambassador’s commentary addressed the trade disputes triggered when President Trump signed a memorandum on March 22, 2018, directing tariffs on Chinese goods following a Section 301 investigation into China’s technology transfer and intellectual property practices. The US implemented 34 billion dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods on July 6, 2018, with China retaliating the same day. The ambassador also advocated for closer China-Europe cooperation and called for alignment between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and European infrastructure plans to achieve what he called “mutual benefits.”

Chinese Ambassador to France Pens Article in Le Monde Diplomatique

On October 30, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to France Deng Li (邓励) published an article in France’s Le Monde Diplomatique titled “What kind of world does China hope to build?” promoting Beijing’s vision for reforming global governance and Xi Jinping’s four major initiatives — the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Governance Initiative (GGI). In an underhanded reference to the United States, the article accused unnamed countries of “prioritizing their own interests” and undermining the multilateral order, while asserting China’s “contributions to the world.” The ambassador also said that “for over 40 years, China has never launched a single war against another country.” However, China engaged in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, which Beijing initiated, and the 1962 Sino-Indian War, during which Chinese forces attacked deep into northeastern India. 

Le Figaro Runs Xi Jinping Article

On March 23, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) published a signed article in France’s Le Figaro (費加羅報) ahead of his second state visit to France. The article, titled “Moving Together Toward Common Development” (在共同發展的道路上繼續並肩前行), appeared before Xi arrived in Nice on March 24. In the piece, Xi reviewed developments in China-France relations since his first state visit in 2014, noting that bilateral trade had grown by over 13 billion US dollars and mutual investment exceeded 20 billion US dollars. Xi stated China would “open wider” and welcomed French companies to invest in China while expressing hope that Chinese businesses would “do better in France.” Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that Chinese state media purchased “at least over one million euros” in advertising space across multiple French outlets during the visit, with content from Xinhua News Agency (新華社) appearing prominently.

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for Senegalese Media

On December 15, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Senegal  published a signed article in Senegalese newspapers Le Soleil and Le Quotidien, promoting the “Initiative on Cooperation Supporting Modernization in Africa,” a joint framework launched by China and South Africa at the November 22, 2025, G20 summit in Johannesburg. The article outlined six principles: “justice and fairness,” “openness and win-win,” “people-centered,” “diversity and inclusiveness,” “ecological friendliness,” and “peace and security”—rhetoric consistent with China’s  framing of Africa engagement through concepts like “amity, equality, win-win, common development.” The ambassador wrote that the Global South “can completely achieve leapfrog development through its own efforts,” positioning Chinese modernization as an alternative development model. 

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article in Handelsblatt

On February 12, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Germany published an article in the business newspaper Handelsblatt titled “Protectionism is Out of Step with the Spirit of the Times” (保護主義不符合時代精神). The ambassador argued that China remains open to foreign business and urged more German investment. He celebrated the success of China’s DeepSeek (深度求索) AI foundation model, arguing that German startups should pursue opportunities in China for cooperation, partnerships, and capital. The article also attacked what it called European “protectionism,” a criticism of the EU’s October 2024 tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for Malaysian Media

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 Consensusa 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

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.

NDR and CGTN Air Joint Talk Show

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.