RSF exposes China’s tact for a “new world media order”
Artemio A. Dumlao — September 23, 2026
RSF exposes China’s tact for a “new world media order”
BAGUIO CITY (September 23, 2026) — China is waging a worldwide campaign to shape how the media reports on Beijing, according to a new investigation by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which warns that the effort stretches across five continents and increasingly targets journalists outside China.
In its latest “Propaganda Monitor” report released on Monday, RSF said Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pursued since 2013 a “new world media order” designed to promote Beijing’s narrative while suppressing reporting that challenges the Chinese government. The group says the campaign uses everything from media partnerships and foreign-language broadcasting to pressure, intimidation and overseas influence operations.
RSF identified 10 tactics allegedly used by Beijing, including content-sharing deals with foreign broadcasters, funding and equipment for local newsrooms, recruitment of diaspora media, government-backed journalist training and fully funded trips to China. The organization also pointed to Chinese embassies’ alleged efforts to discredit or intimidate journalists investigating Beijing’s influence — including cases in the Philippines.
The report also highlights the expanding role of Chinese state media. RSF says outlets including CGTN and Xinhua operate in 160 countries, while Chinese state-linked institutions increasingly court YouTubers, TikTok creators and other influencers to reach younger audiences. RSF cites examples involving Germany, Nigeria and New Zealand.
The pressure, RSF says, does not stop at China’s borders. The organization alleges that Beijing has targeted independent and diaspora journalists overseas, including Uyghur and Hong Kong journalists based in the United States and United Kingdom. RSF says China currently detains 120 news professionals, making it the world’s leading jailer of journalists according to its assessment.
RSF also warned that China’s information strategy increasingly intersects with other authoritarian governments. Its report says Chinese state media such as CGTN have amplified material from Russian state outlets including RT and Sputnik, including coverage surrounding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. RSF argues that such cooperation could help authoritarian governments expand their influence over the global information environment.
The report is the second installment of RSF’s Propaganda Monitor, following an earlier investigation focused on Russia.
China ranks 178th out of 180 countries and territories in RSF’s 2026 World Press Freedom Index, underscoring the watchdog’s concerns about Beijing’s domestic record and its alleged efforts to export its model of media control abroad.
