Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

La República (Costa Rica)

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

La República is a national daily newspaper published in San José, Costa Rica, operated by República Media Group. The newspaper, founded in August 1950, specializes in coverage of business, economics, finance, politics, infrastructure, technology, health, and sports, positioning itself as a reference publication for Costa Rica’s professional sector. La República has covered stories including a 2000 plane crash involving former CIA Chief Stansfield Turner and the 2021 exposure of fake COVID-19 tests sold to tourists. The newspaper maintains a regular content arrangement with China’s official Xinhua News Agency, republishing Chinese state media content with pro-state bias including government propaganda. In 2013, the newspaper began charging for online subscriptions. La República maintains both print and digital editions.

La República Signs Cooperation Deal with People’s Daily

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

In September 2023, marking the 35th anniversary of China-Uruguay diplomatic relations, Uruguayan newspaper La República established cooperative relations with the People’s Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. China selected La República to develop a special publication on bilateral diplomatic relations, and the newspaper had a journalist training in Beijing at the time, publisher Juan Blanco stated in a September 11, 2023 People’s Daily interview. Blanco praised the Belt and Road News Network — operated by People’s Daily and hosted on its name servers — for providing “first-hand information from a truthful, reliable source issued from the origin.” Blanco said the newspaper expected “more cooperation with Chinese media.” The cooperation preceded Uruguay’s November 2023 state visit to China where President Lacalle Pou signed a Belt and Road cooperation plan. Blanco emphasized that ideological differences should not hinder cooperation, stating “people unite by other concepts” and media relationships form “the first encounter” of information exchange. The newspaper publishes China-related content nearly daily. Blanco participated in the February 2026 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum journalist delegation.

El Peruano

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

El Peruano (Diario Oficial El Peruano) is Peru’s official daily newspaper, founded October 22, 1825, by Simón Bolívar, making it the oldest Spanish-language newspaper still in circulation. The newspaper’s historical editions from 1826 to 1868 were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Latin America and Caribbean Register in 2022, recognized as “the only living historical document bequeathed by the liberator Simón Bolívar.” Published by Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales SA (Editora Perú), a state enterprise created in 1974, the newspaper is headquartered in Lima and serves as Peru’s official gazette where all national laws must be published by legal requirement. Beyond its governmental function, El Peruano carries news, official announcements, legal notices, and civil service documents alongside journalism covering politics, economics, and society. Editora Perú also publishes Andina, Peru’s national government-run news agency, and provides editorial and graphic services. Félix Alberto Paz Quiroz, who holds a degree in Social Communication from National University of San Marcos with 29 years of journalism experience, serves as general manager and director of journalistic media for Editora Perú, overseeing both El Peruano and Andina. Paz participated in the February 2026 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum journalist delegation.

Cambodia-China Times

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

The Cambodia China Times (柬中時報) was launched as an online-only digital venture by Phlong Vichet after leaving the Commercial News. Vichet, who had worked at Chinese-language newspapers in Cambodia for over a decade, soft-launched the platform in January 2018 to serve the growing Chinese investor and tourist community. The publication received its news website operating license from Cambodia’s Ministry of Information on February 8, 2018, making it the first new media outlet established by Cambodian Chinese. The platform launched mobile applications for Android and iOS in July 2018, and in 2020 expanded to include a Khmer-language section.

La República

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

La República is a Uruguayan newspaper first published May 3, 1988, and distributed nationwide. Founded by Federico Fasano Mertens, the independent daily provides thoughtful analysis and coverage of social, political topics across Uruguay. Fasano Mertens and his brother Carlos Fasano Mertens (the newspaper’s editor) were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in May 1996 for publishing articles about alleged corruption by Paraguay’s president, prompting Amnesty International to designate both as prisoners of conscience for “peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.” The newspaper reports a digital subscription base of 120,000 users with 25 percent residing outside Uruguay, and operates with an international network of collaborators reporting from Argentina, Chile, Spain, Mexico, Australia, Italy, and the United States. La República has maintained a cooperative relationship with Chinese state media since at least 2023, with publisher Juan Blanco describing in a September 2023 People’s Daily interview how China “chose our media outlet” for a special publication on China-Uruguay diplomatic relations, sent a La República journalist for training in Beijing, and provided access to the Belt and Road News Network — a BRI news service operated by the People’s Daily and hosted on its name servers — for “first-hand information from a truthful, reliable source.” Blanco emphasized that cooperation should not be hindered by ideological differences, stating media relationships form “the first encounter” of China-Uruguay information exchange. Blanco participated in the February 2026 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum journalist delegation.

China and Spain Launch Anniversary Series

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

On March 30, 2023, China Media Group and Spain’s Ministry of Culture launched “China-Spain Cultural Journey” (中西文化之旅), a series of programs marking the 50th anniversary of China-Spain diplomatic relations. According to Wen Wei Po, the programs will be broadcast through CGTN and Spanish partners, including TVE, Telemadrid, Televisión de Extremadura, Canal Sur, and Britel Media Group. The initiative includes the documentary “From Beijing to Madrid,” which profiles individuals across politics, economics, sports, and arts to illustrate bilateral cooperation. Shen Haixiong (慎海雄), president of China Media Group; Spain’s minister of culture and sports, Miquel Iceta; China’s ambassador to Spain, Wu Haitao (吳海濤); and Spanish Ambassador to China Rafael Dezcallar, delivered video messages during the launch. Chinese official messaging focused on the Belt and Road Initiative and emphasized “mutual learning among civilizations” (文明互鑒), employing a more recent addition to the CCP lexicon.

Extremadura Television

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

Extremadura Television (Televisión de Extremadura) is the public broadcaster for Spain’s western Extremadura region, which officially began broadcasting on February 15, 2006. The broadcaster operates television and radio services providing news, cultural programming, and entertainment content. In 2023, the broadcaster joined a group of Spanish media in broadcasting “China-Spain Cultural Journey” (中西文化之旅), a series of programs marking the 50th anniversary of China-Spain diplomatic relations, organized between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and the China Media Group (CMG), the mega-conglomerate under China’s Central Propaganda Department.

MediaForEurope

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

MediaForEurope (MFE) is one of Europe’s largest media groups, founded in 1987 in Milan under the name Mediaset S.p.A. The company was listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in July 1996 and operates primarily in Italy and Spain, focusing on free-to-air commercial television and digital media development. MFE operates through subsidiaries, including Mediaset S.p.A. in Italy and the wholly owned Grupo Audiovisual Mediaset España Comunicación S.A.U. in Spain.

Mediaset Spain

Written by Editors on February 13, 2026.

Mediaset Spain (Mediaset España), formally known as Grupo Audiovisual Mediaset España Comunicación, opened in Madrid on March 10, 1989, and began broadcasting in 1990 as Tele 5. Mediaset España operates seven free-to-air television channels and has expanded beyond broadcasting into advertising sales through Publiespaña, film production via Telecinco Cinema, and public relations consulting. In 2023, the broadcaster joined a group of Spanish media in broadcasting “China-Spain Cultural Journey” (中西文化之旅), a series of programs marking the 50th anniversary of China-Spain diplomatic relations, organized between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and the China Media Group (CMG), the mega-conglomerate under China’s Central Propaganda Department.