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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Belarusian Union of Journalists

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The Belarusian Union of Journalists (白俄羅斯記者聯盟) is a professional media organization headquartered in Belarus, claiming to represent journalists and media workers across the country. The organization positions itself as facilitating media cooperation and professional development within Belarus’s media landscape. According to organizational listings, key figures have included Andrew Krivosheev, who describes himself as a political and social observer, author and presenter of television projects for Belorussian State TV and Radio Company, and serves as a prominent figure within the union. The organization is a member of the China-led Belt and Road Journalists Network, and has engaged in international partnerships, including hosting offices for foreign communication centers such as Gansu Province’s international communication center (甘肅省國際傳播中心) since 2023, and participating in media exchanges with Chinese provincial media organizations. Krivosheev has been included on international sanctions lists, while the union continues to operate cooperative agreements with state media organizations in multiple countries including partnership frameworks with Chinese media entities.

News Agency of Nigeria

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News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is Nigeria’s state-owned news agency, established on May 10, 1976, and became operational on October 2, 1978. Created by the Nigerian government through Decree 19, NAN was formed in part to disseminate news easily across the country and to the international community, and also as a means to counter negative stories about Nigeria. The agency serves as the primary news content provider for Nigeria’s newspapers, electronic media, and bloggers, operating with 501 editorial staff nationwide and a correspondent in New York. NAN produces more than 200 stories per day and introduced satellite technology in 1998 to transmit content simultaneously to subscribers.

Xinhua Signs MOU with Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency

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On August 31, 2025, Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency signed a cooperation agreement with China’s Xinhua News Agency. According to the Azerbaijani agency, the partnership aims to “strengthen, promote and develop cooperation between the two countries in the field of mass media based on the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefit.” The agreement encompasses information sharing, joint project collaboration, and the organization of training programs and conferences. The formal exchange ceremony took place on September 6, 2025, during China’s Global South Media and Think Tanks Forum in Yunnan Province, where Ahmad Ismayilov, head of Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency, met with Xinhua President Fu Hua (傅華) to formalize the partnership.

Chinese Embassy Donates Media Equipment to Island Sun

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On August 27, 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands, donated computers to the Island Sun newspaper in a ceremony where the Deputy Head of Mission personally presented the equipment to the publication’s owner. Embassy officials framed the donation as part of their commitment to supporting local media during difficult times, specifically citing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper’s leadership welcomed what they described as a “timely donation” and expressed interest in strengthening future collaboration with the Embassy. The donation is an example of China’s broader overseas media strategy of providing technical equipment and resources to local news organizations as a means of building relationships and influence.

Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands

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The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Solomon Islands opened on September 21, 2019, shortly after the Solomon Islands switched its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and established formal relations with the People’s Republic of China. The embassy was at the center of a scandal in 2023, when, according to leaked documents obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), it donated equipment and funds to various media outlets in the Solomon Islands in an apparent attempt to secure favorable coverage.

The Island Sun

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The Island Sun is a privately owned daily newspaper based in the Solomon Islands that launched its first issue on October 6, 2006. Operating from its headquarters in Honiara, the newspaper provides coverage across politics, sports, trade, and economic affairs in the Pacific island nation. The publication’s editorial approach to China-related content has been notably positive in tone and framing — including straight and uncritical coverage affirming China’s position on Taiwan. At the same time, Island Sun ceased reporting on Taiwan-related developments in 2021, followed by the discontinuation of Hong Kong coverage in 2022. These editorial decisions occurred within the broader context of evolving China-Solomon Islands relations, including practical support such as the August 27, 2021, donation of computer equipment from the People’s Republic of China Embassy in Honiara during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MCOT Public Company Limited

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MCOT Public Company Limited (บริษัท อสมท จำกัด มหาชน) is Thailand’s state-owned public broadcaster, established as Thai Television Company Limited on November 10, 1952, and reorganized as the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand in 1977. MCOT operates under the Ministry of Finance, running four main business segments: television broadcasting through MCOT 9 Television Station and 35 provincial network stations; radio operations via 47 central stations covering 92.4 percent of Thailand; digital terrestrial television under DVB-T2 standards; and digital/new media services including on-demand content through internet platforms. MCOT reported a net loss of 316.7 million baht ($8.98 million USD) in 2024 on revenues of 1.17 billion baht ($33.15 million USD), a sharp reversal from 2023’s profit of 587.4 million baht ($16.65 million USD) on 2.38 billion baht ($67.5 million USD) revenue, according to company financial statements, reflecting significant challenges facing traditional state broadcasters in Thailand’s evolving media landscape.

Thai News Agency

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Thai News Agency is the national news service of Thailand and a subsidiary of MCOT (Mass Communication Organization of Thailand), the country’s state broadcaster. Founded on June 16, 1977, the agency serves as Thailand’s primary wire service, responsible for producing, gathering, analyzing and distributing news content across multiple platforms including radio, television, digital media, internet and social media channels. Operating under state media oversight, Thai News Agency functions as the official voice of the Thai government, providing domestic and international news coverage while supporting MCOT’s broader broadcasting operations.

Xiamen University Hosts China-ASEAN Journalism Education Conference

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The “China-ASEAN Journalism Education Conference” (中國—東盟未來新聞傳播教育會議), bringing together approximately 30 academic representatives from nine ASEAN countries alongside Chinese academics, was held from September 13-14, 2025, in the port city of Xiamen. Co-organized by the School of Journalism and Communication of Xiamen University (廈門大學新聞傳播學院) and the university’s Center for International Communication Research (廈門大學國際傳播研究中心), the conference revolved around the theme of journalism and the role of artificial intelligence. Indian national Daya K. Thussu (達雅·屠蘇), president of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), participated in sessions focused on artificial intelligence’s impact on journalism. He said that journalism education “needs to summarize the past to face the future” and stressed the importance of cooperation among ASEAN journalism education institutions to address future challenges posed by technological developments and changing media landscapes. The conference, which emphasized “building a China-ASEAN journalism education community” (构建中国—东盟新闻传播教育共同体), reflected Beijing’s broader regional foreign policy strategy, using partnerships in media, education, and culture to further its geopolitical goals. Chinese media reports indicated participation by representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.