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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communication

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, established in December 2007 under Government Decree No. 178/2007/ND-CP, was the government body responsible for managing the country’s information and communication sector. It oversaw areas including press, publishing, postal services, telecommunications, internet, broadcasting, and national information infrastructure. On March 1, 2025, the MIC officially ceased operations following its merger with the Ministry of Science and Technology to form the new Ministry of Science and Technology. The National Assembly approved the appointment of Nguyen Manh Hung as the new minister on February 18, 2025, with the merger taking effect on March 1, 2025, under Government Decree No. 55.

Australian News Channel Pty Ltd

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Australian News Channel (ANC) is a media company that operates Sky News Australia and related channels. The company was founded in 1995, originally as a joint venture between British Sky Broadcasting, Seven Media Group, and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (澳洲廣播出版有限公司). Sky News Australia itself launched on 19 February 1996 as Australia’s first domestically produced television news channel. The company operates several broadcasting services, including Sky News Australia, Sky News Extra, Sky News Weather Channel, Sky News Regional, and international services like Sky News New Zealand. News Corp Australia acquired the entire company in December 2016, buying out the original stakeholders who had rejected a News Corp takeover offer of A$20 million in June 2015, with the owners wanting a minimum of A$50 million. The deal was worth approximately A$20 million according to industry sources.

Fairfax Media Group

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Fairfax Media was a major Australian media conglomerate that operated newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and digital properties across Australia and New Zealand from 1841 until its acquisition by Nine Entertainment Co. in December 2018. Founded when John Fairfax purchased The Sydney Morning Herald, the company expanded to control flagship publications including The Age and The Australian Financial Review. Despite its historical significance in Australian journalism, Fairfax faced mounting financial pressures in the digital era, implementing widespread staff cuts and transitioning to paywalls before ultimately losing its independence. The company’s willingness to engage in media partnerships with Chinese state entities, including signing cooperation agreements with China Daily and China Radio International in 2016, reflected broader industry trends of seeking revenue streams amid declining traditional media revenues.

Daily Star Joins PRC Poverty Reduction Symposium

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On April 6, 2010, Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of Bangladesh’s Daily Star newspaper, participated in a symposium at the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (中國國際扶貧中心), where he discussed China-Bangladesh cooperation and shared insights on his country’s development experience. The International Poverty Reduction Center was established jointly by the Chinese government, United Nations Development Programme and other international organizations in May 2005, and operates as a direct subsidiary of what was then China’s State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, now reorganized under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. During the session, moderated by Chief Technical Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, Anam highlighted Bangladesh’s progress in areas including democracy building, economic growth, and women’s rights, while discussing China’s role in regional infrastructure and poverty reduction cooperation. Anam, who continues to serve as editor of Bangladesh’s largest English-language newspaper and previously worked for UNESCO as a media expert, emphasized what he described as China’s commitment to peaceful development and suggested increased Chinese participation in South Asian regional forums. The Daily Star, founded in 1991 during Bangladesh’s return to democracy, has gained recognition as an influential English-language publication in the country.

Government of Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea operates as a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth realm, with the British monarch serving as head of state through a governor-general who uniquely gains appointment via parliamentary election rather than direct royal selection. The prime minister leads the government from Port Moresby, chosen by the 111-member National Parliament following general elections held every five years. The legislature comprises 89 single-member constituencies and 22 provincial representatives who simultaneously serve as regional governors, reflecting the nation’s decentralized structure across 22 province-level divisions, including the autonomous Bougainville region. A constitutional judiciary operates through tiered courts, while coalition politics and frequent party-switching characterize the volatile political landscape that has produced numerous government changes since independence in 1975. Freedom House rates the country “partly free” due to electoral irregularities and media constraints affecting press freedom.

Chinese Ambassador Featured in Bengali Newspaper

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Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang (馬明強) gave a joint media interview published on the front page of one of Bangladesh’s largest Bengali-language newspapers Prothom Alo (প্রথম আলো) on October 1, 2017. The interview covered China-Bangladesh relations following President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) October 2016 state visit, which Ma described as “historic”. During the visit, both countries elevated ties to strategic partnership status and signed over 20 cooperation agreements covering energy, power, maritime affairs, security, and climate change. Ma claimed the visit “brought over 400 million US dollars in investment” and that “Bangladesh will board the express train of China’s economic development.” He outlined cooperation progress under the Belt and Road Initiative, including the China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge No. 8 (中孟友誼八橋), Payra coal-fired power plant (帕亞拉燃煤電站), and Chittagong Chinese Industrial Park (吉大港中國工業園區). Ma emphasized China’s role as Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, though he incorrectly stated bilateral trade reached $79.8 billion in the first half of 2017—actual full-year 2017 trade was approximately $12 billion. The interview highlighted expanding people-to-people exchanges, including over 1,000 Chinese scholarships for Bangladeshi students and the establishment of a second Confucius Institute at Dhaka University (達卡大學).

Prothom Alo

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Prothom Alo is Bangladesh’s largest-circulation Bengali-language daily newspaper, founded November 4, 1998, and published from Dhaka by Transcom Group’s Mediastar Ltd. The newspaper claims daily readership of 6.6 million for its print edition and 7.6 million across all platforms, with its online portal described on its X profile as “the most visited Bengali website in the world.” Prothom Alo has distinguished itself through investigative reporting on acid attacks, violence against women, and campaigns against drugs and religious terrorism. The publication has faced government pressure, including the 2021 detention of senior reporter Rozina Islam under the Official Secrets Act and a 2007 cartoon controversy that resulted in a supplement ban. Sister concerns include ABC Radio FM 89.2, Prothoma Prokashon publishing house, and several magazines covering science, politics, and youth topics. The newspaper organizes Bangladesh’s Mathematics Olympiad and won the 2025 “Best in South Asia” award from the International News Media Association.

The Daily Star

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The Daily Star is Bangladesh’s largest circulating English-language daily newspaper, founded by Syed Mohammad Ali on January 14, 1991, as the country transitioned to parliamentary democracy. As of 2025, Mahfuz Anam served as editor and publisher, with the newspaper owned by Mediaworld Limited, where Transcom Group holds major shares. The BBC described it as having a “reputation for journalistic integrity and liberal and progressive views – a kind of Bangladeshi New York Times.” The publication gained popularity for outspoken coverage of politics, corruption, and foreign policy. The newspaper has faced government pressure, including suspended advertisements in 2015 and website blocking in 2018 after reporting an extrajudicial killing. Controversies include Anam’s 2016 admission on ATN News of publishing military intelligence-fed stories during 2007-2008 and Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s February 2024 jailing on child abuse charges following domestic worker Preeti Urang’s death.

CUC Hosts China-India Youth Roundtable

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A China-India Youth Roundtable commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations was held at Communication University of China (中國傳媒大學) on March 26, 2025, organized by the All-China Youth Federation (中華全國青年聯合會). The event, themed “Youth Working Together to Build a Healthy China-India Partnership” (青年携手共筑健康发展的中印伙伴关系), brought together approximately 70 participants, including Indian youth leaders and Chinese academics. CUC Vice President Yang Yi (楊懿) claimed the university has “pioneered” Indian language programs since the 1960s, with graduates becoming “cultural ambassadors” (文化使者). All-China Youth Federation Deputy Secretary-General Dong Xia (董霞) said the “dragon-elephant dance” (龍象共舞) between these major Global South nations would “inject momentum” into regional stability. Indian delegation leader Anuja Yadav stated both populous nations carry a “historic mission” to shape 21st-century global leadership through friendship and cooperation.