DW: Chinese Propaganda Infiltrating German Media?

Donald Trump has warned that China may meddle in the US midterm congressional elections, including propaganda presented as news. Similar concerns have been raised about German media. China rejects the allegation. A German newsletter agreed to carry content from China's state news service, Xinhua. “The aim, according to the newsletter, was to keep DPA customers informed about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a prestige project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, from a Chinese perspective,” reports Deutsche Welle. “The Xinhua-DPA partnership is also underpinned by the Chinese government's desire to gain more influence abroad.” A joint study by the Mercator Institute for China Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute point out the western media's increasing reliance on paid advertising content made to look like independent news. Such advertising revenue is welcome as media companies struggle financially. Readers, including the Chinese, often have an expectation that reports from western media are accurate, independent reports. Note: YaleGlobal Online had a publishing agreement with Fudan University in China that ended in 2012. - YaleGlobal