Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World

Joshua Kurlantzick's book "Beijing's Global Media Offensive" examines how China is attempting to become a media and information superpower around the world, seeking to shape the politics, local media, and information environments of both East Asia and the World. Beijing's state-backed media has been overhauled and expanded, and the government also attempts to impact local media, civil society, and politics by having Chinese firms or individuals with close links buy up local media outlets, signing content-sharing deals, expanding China's social media giants, and controlling the wireless and wired technology through which information now flows. Kurlantzick contends that while China has worked hard to build a global media and information superpower, it often has failed to reap gains from its efforts and has undermined itself with overly assertive, alienating diplomacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Since China's rise to major-power status in the 1990s, much attention has been paid to its economic growth and expanding military capabilities. However, China's ability to project power over information and media, as well as the infrastructure through which information flows, has been limited. That is beginning to change.

Beijing's state-backed media, once considered incapable of having a significant global impact, has undergone a significant overhaul and expansion. At a time when many democracies' media outlets are consolidating due to financial pressures, China's largest state media outlets, such as the news agency Xinhua, are modernizing, professionalizing, and expanding their reach to an international audience.

Overseas, Beijing also attempts to influence local media, civil society, and politics by having Chinese firms or individuals with close links purchase local media outlets, by signing content-sharing deals with local media, by expanding China's social media giants, and by controlling the wireless and wired technology through which information now flows, among other efforts.

In his book, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: A Major Analysis of How China is Attempting to Build a Media and Information Superpower Around the World, Joshua Kurlantzick focuses on how all of this is playing out in both China's immediate neighborhood, including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in the United States and many other parts of the world. He traces the ways in which China is trying to build an information and influence superpower, but also examines the challenges and risks associated with this endeavor.

One of the key aspects of China's media and information strategy is its investment in infrastructure. Beijing has been building a vast network of fiber-optic cables and other communication infrastructure that spans the globe. This infrastructure allows China to control the flow of information and ensure that its messages are disseminated quickly and efficiently.

Another aspect of China's media and information strategy is its use of social media platforms. China has been investing heavily in its social media giants, such as WeChat and Weibo, which have millions of users worldwide. These platforms allow China to reach a large audience and disseminate its messages and propaganda.

However, China's media and information strategy also faces several challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of freedom of expression in China. The Chinese government tightly controls the media and online platforms, and there are strict laws and regulations that limit the freedom of speech and expression. This has made it difficult for Chinese citizens to access independent news and information, and it has also limited the ability of Chinese media outlets to report on sensitive topics.

Another challenge for China's media and information strategy is the growing competition from other countries. As China's economy grows, so does its influence in the global media and information landscape. However, other countries, such as the United States and Japan, are also investing heavily in their own media and information infrastructure, and they are also developing their own social media platforms. This competition has made it difficult for China to maintain its dominance in the global media and information sphere.

Despite these challenges, China's media and information strategy remains a significant force in the global arena. Beijing's investment in infrastructure and its use of social media platforms have allowed it to reach a large audience and disseminate its messages and propaganda. However, the lack of freedom of expression and the growing competition from other countries pose significant risks to China's ability to maintain its dominance in the global media and information sphere.

In conclusion, China's media and information strategy is a complex and multifaceted effort to build a media and information superpower around the world. While China has made significant progress in recent years, it faces several challenges and risks that must be addressed if it is to maintain its dominance in the global media and information landscape. The Chinese government must continue to invest in infrastructure and social media platforms, while also ensuring that its citizens have access to independent news and information and that its media outlets are free to report on sensitive topics.

Weight: 918g
Dimension: 243 x 165 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197515761