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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Philippine Paper Runs Coverage Promoting PRC External Propaganda

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On August 26, 2025, the Chinese Commercial News (菲律賓商報), a Chinese-language outlet in the Philippines with close ties to PRC media and official entities, published extensive coverage of the 2025 Overseas Chinese Media Cooperation Organization Annual Conference held in Changsha, Hunan Province, where participants gathered to discuss how to “amplify China’s voice in international communication.” The article, originally published by Hong Kong’s Chinese government-run Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group (香港大公文匯傳媒集團), detailed how 84 overseas Chinese media outlets from 37 countries and regions attended under the theme “uniting across five continents and four seas to promote mutual understanding.” The conference was organized by the Hunan Provincial Propaganda Department and co-hosted by the Overseas Chinese Media Cooperation Organization (海外華文傳媒合作組織) and Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group. Li Dahong (李大宏), chairman of both the cooperation organization and Ta Kung Wen Wei, emphasized promoting the concept of “Datong” (大同) — a vision of universal harmony. The article reported that seven new media outlets joined the transnational Chinese-language media organization, which is operated by the PRC, bringing total membership to 130 outlets across five continents and 44 countries and regions.

Chinese Commercial News Signs Content Deal with Wen Wei Po

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On October 8, 2003, the Chinese Commercial News (菲律賓商報), a Chinese-language newspaper in the Philippines with close ties to PRC media and official entities, signed a cooperation agreement with Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po (文匯報), a newspaper operated by the Chinese government in the SAR, to publish a Philippines edition featuring content provided by the Hong Kong outlet. According to Wen Wei Po, the arrangement delivered “fresh content and lively page layouts” that were “widely praised,” with the newspaper’s “influence steadily rising” in the Philippine market. Wen Wei Po added that the deal positioned it to expand its reach across Southeast Asia through local Chinese-language media outlets. By 2008, Wen Wei Po reported that its overseas editions, including the Philippines version, had achieved a combined circulation exceeding 400,000 copies across more than a dozen international markets.

Chinese Commercial News Runs Xinhua Report on Foreign Minister Wang Yi

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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.

Harian InHua

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Harian Inhua (印華日報) is a Chinese-language newspaper serving Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese community, launched on October 17, 2014, by Indonesia Inhua Media Group (印度尼西亞印華傳媒集團). The outlet operates a print newspaper as well as the news website Harian Inhua Online, offering news coverage of Indonesia, China, and broader Asian affairs in Chinese and Indonesian languages. Yinhua TV provides video content, distributed through social media channels. Chairman Ye Lianli (葉聯禮) has described the newspaper in terms redolent of PRC state language as “a bridge for Indonesia-China friendship”  (印尼對華友好的橋樑). He has said the outlet is committed to promoting economic cooperation between Indonesia, ASEAN, and China. While the website features original content on Indonesian affairs, coverage of Taiwan and Hong Kong aligns with the Chinese Communist Party and state media positions.

Republika

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Republika is an Indonesian news portal covering politics, economics, culture, and religious affairs. Founded in 1995 to “serve Indonesia’s Muslim community,” the publication ceased its print edition in December 2022 and transitioned fully online. The website offers news in both Indonesian and English, and republishes content from Germany’s Deutsche Welle. Republika has participated in China-Indonesia media cooperation initiatives, with its news editor attending the second China-Indonesia Media Forum organized by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in September 2024, where he stated that the media plays an important role “not only as a bridge but also as a game changer” in supporting Indonesia-China political-economic relations. Writing for The Interpreter at the Lowy Institute, one Indonesian researcher reported that a journalist for Republika received direct complaints from China’s Embassy in Jakarta after 2019 coverage of Xinjiang at the outlet reported that Uighur detainees in the region had been denied trials.

TASS

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TASS is Russia’s state-owned news agency, established in 1904 and wholly controlled by the Russian government as a Federal State Unitary Enterprise. The agency “claims” to publish “nearly 3,000 news items daily in six languages” and operate 70 offices in Russia and 59 branches globally. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, TASS was suspended from the European Alliance of News Agencies for “not being able to provide unbiased news,” and Getty Images terminated its partnership for editorial policy violations. TASS has been identified as a source of disinformation in Russian influence operations, spreading false claims about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy fleeing Kyiv and unsubstantiated allegations about Ukraine developing a nuclear “dirty bomb.” The agency frequently acts as a propaganda instrument for the Kremlin.

Government of the Russian Federation

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The Government of the Russian Federation serves as Russia’s federal executive body, comprising the prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and federal ministers. Established in its current form on December 12, 1993, it operates within a political system where power is largely concentrated in President Vladimir Putin’s hands. While constitutionally the government exercises executive authority separate from the presidency, in practice it functions within an authoritarian framework characterized by subservient courts, controlled media, and a compliant legislature. The government’s formal responsibilities include drafting the federal budget, implementing policies, managing federal property, and ensuring national security. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, authorities have intensified restrictions on civil liberties to suppress dissent. The most recent governmental reorganization occurred on May 14, 2024, when President Putin established Mikhail Mishustin’s Second Cabinet.

Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata

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Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) was founded on January 15, 1945, as Italy’s leading news agency and a not-for-profit cooperative owned by leading Italian news organizations. Headquartered in Rome at Via della Dataria 94, ANSA maintains offices across Italy and internationally in 78 other countries. The organization claims to transmit “more than 3,500 news items and 1,500 photos daily” to Italian media, national institutions, and international organizations. ANSA emerged from Italy’s anti-fascist resistance movement, replacing the fascist Agenzia Stefani after World War II. The agency provides news services in seven languages, including Italian, English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Arabic, and since 2003 has operated ANSAMed, covering Mediterranean basin countries. ANSA is currently led by President Giulio Anselmi, CEO Stefano De Alessandri, and Editor-in-Chief Luigi Contu.

China International Communication Center

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The China International Communication Center, established in November 1993 and operational by April 1994, functions as a key external propaganda institution now under the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Originally subordinate to the State Council Information Office, with the Ministry of Finance (财政部) exercising ownership rights, the center evolved into a comprehensive international communications organization operating 26 overseas branches across 14 countries. Its multifaceted operations include publishing books and periodicals in over 40 languages, producing multimedia content, maintaining government websites including China Human Rights Network (中国人权网) and China Xinjiang Network (中国新疆网), organizing cultural exchanges, and publishing multilingual urban lifestyle magazines like “That’s China” (城市漫步). Following organizational restructuring, CICC has become instrumental in advancing Beijing’s global messaging strategy, with President Xi Jinping, according to state media reports from the organization’s 70th anniversary in 2019, setting expectations for its development into “a world-class, comprehensive international communication institution” (世界一流的综合性国际传播机构) to shape international perceptions of China through carefully coordinated narrative management across traditional and digital platforms.