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David Bandurski interview with FEER

David Bandurski talks about his July investigative piece in the Far Eastern Economic Review about China’s use of Web commentator teams to “guide” public opinion on the Web.

David Bandurski talks about his July investigative piece in the Far Eastern Economic Review about China’s use of Web commentator teams to “guide” public opinion on the Web.

David Bandurski

CMP Director

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In a fascinating feature story this week, Shanghai’s The Paper took a look at an apartment building in Zhejiang province’s capital city that has a reputation for hosting more than its fair share of online influencers.

Commending a Compliant Press

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Hu Xijin Quietly Returns

Nov 8, 2024 | Alex Colville

One of China’s most patriotic and combative online commentators went silent back in July, when he apparently stepped over the line in commenting on a decision from the leadership. He is back, though not yet with much to say.

Harris in the Fissures of Online Hate

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For many Chinese Americans, vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is an inspirational figure, the perfect daughter of an immigrant family. But in the spaces frequented by Mandarin-speaking audiences on X, WeChat and Douyin, she has faced a torrent of racism and hate.

Cloaking What China Says

Oct 31, 2024 | Alex Colville

This week in a study session of the Politburo, Xi Jinping talked about “innovating internet propaganda.” Part of the answer to how China plans to do this lies in its growing network of cloaked official accounts. We take a deeper look.

Reading Red on Cross-Strait Relations

Oct 23, 2024 | Dalia Parete

China’s efforts to conduct external propaganda on core issues like Taiwan are often built on totally concocted events, and even spurious or unavailable intellectual works. But that, as Dalia Parete and David Bandurski write, may be beside the point.

For State Media, Copycats are No Joke

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The recent case of a counterfeit article erroneously sourced to the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party has the authorities crying foul. But the real culprit is their claim to a monopoly on the truth.

Divorcing China from Wedding Humiliation

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Making Deepfakes With Chinese AI

Oct 16, 2024 | Alex Colville

Chinese AI tools are getting more sophisticated, and concerns are rising they will be used to interfere with democracies. So how easy is it to create deepfakes on the Chinese internet?

Married to the Motherland

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The idea of 5,000 couples tying the knot at once in a state-planned ceremony may not sound romantic — but China’s leadership is in love with the idea of encouraging traditional marriage.

Goodness Me

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Good Me, one of China’s largest tea store chains, had a hard lesson in public relations this week after internet users decided its punchline video about workplace discipline was not funny, not at all.

Married Out

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Farewell, Microblog

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In Xi’s “New Era” signs now point to the untimely end of the Weibo Era. Is it possible any longer to build a platform strategy around recognized public intellectuals?

Media Friendship, from Beijing to Jakarta

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At a recent event for China-Indonesia media cooperation, part of China’s larger push for influence in Southeast Asia, “responsibility” was on the agenda — emphasizing for participants that the role of journalism is to promote good feeling and a smooth bilateral relationship.

China’s AI Hallucination Challenge

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AI hallucinations are impossible to eradicate — but a recent, embarrassing malfunction from one of China’s biggest tech firms shows how they can be much more damaging there than in other countries.

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US vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz, a former Cantonese learner who was popular with his Chinese students, is affectionate toward China — but he is no “dove” on human rights, Hong Kong, and Tibet issues.

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Chinese AI is moving at a fast pace, but it’s important not to give in to hype about exactly what the technology can do — a point state media are now making themselves.

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Chinese media coverage of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent visit to China has been characterized by a blend of criticism and optimism, strategic framing, and an emphasis on historical ties.

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