Chinese influence operations targeting Latin American media have intensified through sophisticated strategies aimed at journalists and news outlets across the region. On June 13, 2025, Diálogo Americas reported that China employs journalist training programs, media partnerships, and covert networks to promote pro-Beijing narratives while suppressing criticism, with recent examples including 247 journalists from 23 countries touring Chinese facilities and producing favorable coverage. The article begins:
China’s influence over Latin American media and its journalists is expanding. To promote its interests and shape public opinion, China employs various strategies to spread its narrative and suppress criticism. In April, Chinese publishing group Caixin Media sponsored a summit organized by Brazilian economic newspaper Valor in Shanghai, Valor Brasil-China 2025, illustrating how Beijing uses this type of journalistic initiative to advance its political and economic agenda.
Read more: https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/chinas-influence-operations-in-latin-american-media/
Key Points
- The People’s Daily established partnerships with newspapers in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, organizing media cooperation forums to co-opt local journalists under the guise of “friendship.”
- China funded training programs bringing 247 journalists from 23 Latin American countries to tour strategic locations like BYD’s Zhengzhou plant, resulting in pro-China articles and videos.
- The Paperwall campaign operated 123 fake local newspaper websites across 30+ nations to promote pro-Beijing narratives while attacking CCP critics through commercial press releases.
- Beijing uses the “borrow a boat to go out to sea” strategy, with Peruvian outlets América TV and El Comercio signing content cooperation agreements with China Media Group.
Chinese Influence Operations Targeting Global Media
China’s influence operations are systematically targeting global media environments through a range of direct and indirect strategies designed to shape narratives and control information flows. China’s surge in overseas media outlets has enabled state-linked channels, such as CGTN and Xinhua, to broadcast content globally, often in partnership with local broadcasters in countries like Italy, Kenya, and the Philippines, ensuring that positive coverage of China’s policies is disseminated in local news bulletins.
Chinese state propaganda also infiltrates Western mainstream news outlets through advertorial inserts, with publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times hosting paid content that resembles independent journalism but is produced by Chinese state media. China’s global influence campaign combines economic pressure and information warfare, leveraging economic leverage and elite capture to shape foreign media environments and co-opt government officials and media owners.
These efforts are complemented by academic infiltration and digital tactics in countries like India, where Chinese influence extends into media circles through training programs and partnerships, further embedding pro-China narratives in local journalism. Collectively, these strategies reflect a comprehensive, institutionally focused campaign aimed at dominating global media landscapes and eroding trust in independent journalism.
External References
Disclaimer
The Global Influence Operations Report (GIOR) employs AI throughout the posting process, including generating summaries of news items, the introduction, key points, and often the “context” section. We recommend verifying all information before use. Additionally, images are AI-generated and intended solely for illustrative purposes. While they represent the events or individuals discussed, they should not be interpreted as real-world photography.
PREVIOUS POST