Skip to main content

Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Chinese Diplomat Visits Sin Chew Daily

Written by Editors on .

On December 8, 2023, Chinese Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Zheng Xuefang (鄭學方) visited the headquarters of Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily and met with senior leaders from Media Chinese International Limited. The meeting occurred in the context of 2024 marking the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations, established on May 31, 1974. Zheng praised the role of media in strengthening bilateral relations and emphasized the concept of a “China-Malaysia community of shared destiny” (中馬命運共同體). The meeting was attended by Media Chinese International Board Chairman Tiong Choon (張聰), Editor-in-Chief Kuok Ching Kian (郭清江), Sin Chew Daily CEO Xu Chun (許春), Executive Editor-in-Chief Chen Hanguang (陳漢光), and General Manager of Corporate Relations Chen Jinquan (陳金泉).

China and Indonesia Hold Youth Media Exchange Program

Written by Editors on .

On August 29, 2025, the “We and the World Dialogue” (我們與世界對話) China-Indonesia youth media exchange took place in Jakarta, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Nearly 100 young representatives from media organizations, universities, and research institutions participated. The event was co-organized by several Chinese institutions linked to the Guangxi Provincial Government, including the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (廣西壯族自治區人民政府新聞辦公室), the Guangxi International Communication Center (廣西國際傳播中心) — an office under the province’s propaganda office — and Guangxi Radio and Television (廣西廣播電視台). Indonesian partners included the state-run Televisi Republik Indonesia (印尼國家電視台) and the newspaper Harian InHua (印華日報). Participants explored three central themes throughout the event, including AI, media integration (媒體融合), and “Partners with Shared Destiny” (命運與共好夥伴) — this last theme clearly aligned with Xi Jinping’s foreign policy framework. This event is part of Guangxi’s broader role under a national plan in China to empower border provinces in the south to promote Chinese messaging across Southeast Asia.

China and Czech Republic Sign Joint Communiqué During Zeman Visit

Written by Editors on .

In December 1999, Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji issued a joint communiqué following Zeman’s official visit to China. The document, echoing standard official CCP discourse, stated that both sides reached a “friendly atmosphere” and committed to “long-term, stable cooperative ties” based on “mutual respect” (相互尊重) and “non-interference in each other’s internal affairs” (互不干涉内政). On media engagement, the two governments expressed a willingness to “further develop cooperation” in the area of journalism (新闻), or news, alongside culture and education — though specific programs were not mentioned. The Czech side reiterated its adherence to the Chinese government’s concept of the “one China” principle (一个中国原则), recognizing Taiwan as an “inalienable part of Chinese territory.”

CITIC Group Acquires Majority Stake in Medea

Written by Editors on .

In April 2020, the Chinese state-run conglomerate CITIC Group exercised a strategic option to increase its ownership in Médea from a 30 percent minority to a 57 percent majority stake. This transaction, executed through CITIC’s investment arm Rainbow Wisdom Investment, granted the Chinese Ministry of Finance significant leverage over the Czech media landscape. Médea acts as a critical intermediary, said media reports in the Czech Republic, managing approximately 3 billion CZK (about 120 million US dollars) in annual advertising budgets. Analysts expressed concern that this financial control could create a chilling effect on journalism, effectively incentivizing accommodating outlets with advertising revenue while penalizing those critical of Beijing. The move followed the collapse of CEFC China Energy, whose assets were absorbed by CITIC to maintain China’s institutional influence.

Medea Group

Written by Editors on .

Médea Group (MÉDEA, a.s.) is the largest communications and media agency on the Czech market, representing a portfolio of more than 600 clients. The company functions as a comprehensive service provider, offering strategic media planning, marketing communication, and the implementation of large-scale media campaigns. Because it acts as a critical intermediary for advertising procurement, Médea holds a dominant position in the Czech media landscape. In 2020, the agency managed an estimated annual advertising budget of 3 billion CZK (approximately 120 million US dollars). Between 2016 and 2021, the firm became a focal point of geopolitical concern following significant investments from Chinese state-linked entities, specifically CEFC China Energy and later CITIC Group. Analysts noted that this financial control could potentially influence domestic editorial independence by directing advertising revenue toward accommodating media outlets.

Government of the Czech Republic

Written by Editors on .

The Government of the Czech Republic (Vláda České republiky) is the supreme body of executive power, established by the 1993 Constitution. It is a collective decision-making body comprising the Prime Minister, who serves as the head of government, alongside Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers. The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister and, upon their proposal, the rest of the cabinet. A fundamental tenet of the Czech parliamentary system is the government’s collective accountability to the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká sněmovna); it must secure a formal vote of confidence within thirty days of appointment and can be dismissed through a vote of no confidence. Operating from the Straka Academy in Prague, the government manages the state administration and proposes the national budget. Historically, the government’s stance on China has “oscillated” between values-based criticism and economic pragmatism. Following a period of high-level engagement and “strategic partnership” (戰略合作關係) under the Zeman administration (2013–2021), subsequent cabinets have pivoted toward “de-risking” (去风险), prioritizing security and cooperation with Taiwan while labeling China a “systemic challenge” (系統性挑戰).

RTHK Signs Cooperation Deal With Guangzhou TV

Written by Editors on .

On June 13, 2025, Hong Kong Director of Broadcasting Kwan Yuen-yee (關婉儀) and the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network (廣州廣播電視台), or GZBN, signed a memorandum of cooperation to deepen regional media integration. The partnership includes joint productions commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II (抗戰勝利80周年) — a core propaganda theme for China in 2025 — and the first-ever co-produced radio drama focusing on life in the Greater Bay Area (粵港澳大灣區), or “GBA”—the development region that is a key point of plans by China’s CCP leadership for greater integration between Hong Kong and the mainland. Kwan stated that RTHK will leverage its role in “linking the interior and connecting the exterior” (內聯外通) to foster a stronger sense of national identity (國民身份認同) among Hong Kong citizens, an idea closely associated with indoctrination in China’s CCP-led political system, including the study of “Xi Jinping Thought.”

Guangzhou Broadcasting Network

Written by Editors on .

Established in 2010 through the merger of local radio and television entities, the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network, or GZBN (廣州廣播電視台), operates major channels such as GZBN Comprehensive and News, alongside the Nanguo City 4K (南國都市4K) channel — which the network claims was the first 4K station at a municipal level in China. As a municipally-owned institution (事业单位) under the direct leadership of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP) and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, GZBN serves as the state-run municipal broadcasting outlet for the southern city of Guangzhou. Headquartered at the Guangzhou International Media Port (廣州國際媒體港), GZBN led a transition toward high-definition broadcasting by becoming the nation’s first institution to completely phase out standard-definition channels. 

CMG and Spanish Ministry of Culture Sign MOU

Written by Editors on .

On September 9, 2024, China Media Group (CMG) and Spain’s Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum for strategic cooperation on broadcasting and film production. According to a report from China Central Television, the state-run broadcaster under CMG, the memorandum establishes “a regular cooperation mechanism” for cultural heritage protection and personnel exchanges, and commits both parties to “joint production and broadcasting of cultural programs” (文化節目聯合制播). The deal means CMG can co-produce documentaries and content about Spanish culture and China-Spain relations that will be broadcast on CMG’s networks in China and internationally, while Spain’s Ministry of Culture gains access (in principle) to CMG’s production resources and Chinese broadcast markets. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez witnessed the signing during Sánchez’s second official visit to China.