Chinese ownership of strategic assets in Portugal, including utilities and banks, rose substantially during the country’s 2011–2014 sovereign debt crisis. Portugal joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018, and PRC media activities there have centered on promoting development projects and the mutual benefits of investment. Despite strong press freedoms, Portugal’s small Chinese-language press works closely with PRC state media. Portugal’s colonial history in Macau also shapes the relationship, with China using Macau as a platform to reach Portuguese-speaking countries through media partnerships.
