
Beware the Tigers
As China’s provincial propaganda apparatus reaches into Europe through cultural diplomacy, even storied universities can find themselves unwitting partners in the enterprise.

In April 2025, Jishi Media signed a memorandum of understanding with Cátedra China, a Madrid-based think tank with close ties to the Chinese government. The agreement, signed in Madrid on April 11, commits both parties to producing and distributing media content to “deepen understanding of China in the Spanish-speaking world,” to “develop and promote materials helping Spain understand the realities of 21st-century China,” and to strengthening ties among media professionals, journalists, writers, and filmmakers in both countries — objectives that align closely with Beijing’s stated goals for overseas cultural and media influence. Cátedra China, founded in 2012, describes itself as an analysis and discussion platform whose more than 130 members are experts and scholars with at least a decade of experience working on China-Spain relations.
