Academics investigate bias in our Chinese-language media
Academics investigate bias in our Chinese-language media
Analysis: An opinion piece appeared to contain emotionally-charged calls to side with China on criticism of human rights abuses, and a front-page article encouraged readers to vote for a candidate.
In an analysis, academics recently found several cases of pro-CCP and pro-NZ-National-Party bias in NZ Chinese-language media. It’s long been known that China interferes in Chinese-language media here.
Interestingly, it appears the CCP and NZ Chinese-language media are currently putting their weight behind National MP Nancy Lu. She was secretly “trained as a candidate” by former National MP Jian Yang, according to a statement made by Yang in 2020. Notably, Yang used to train spies for the People’s Liberation Army before he came to NZ, and left parliament after intelligence agencies flagged him over his relationship with the CCP.
What does the phrase " China interferes in Chinese-language media here." mean here?
What is the nature of this interference?
Have a look at that article, which goes into it a little. But China's influence in New Zealand is extensive, especially amongst the NZ Chinese community. It is far worse than most kiwis realise. They operate a network of Chinese "police stations" and undertake all kinds of intelligence, influence and intimidation activities. They attempt to interfere in almost anything related to China here, including local Chinese-language media.
It's not a topic that can be easily summarised in a Lemmy comment. But if you're really interested in learning more about it, I recommend RNZ's Red Line podcast from a couple of years ago. It's eye opening.
I did read the article and frankly it smacks of weasel word filled propaganda speech exactly like they are accusing the chinese of doing. Lots of vague accusations filled with statements like "In May 2019, the Chinese Herald produced an article on Huawei’s limited access to New Zealand’s 5G networks framing the restrictions in emotive and dramatic terms," as if this some great evil which only the chinese language media engages in.
In fact it goes further in asking for state intervention is stifling the media with statements like
Chinese-language publications have the right to report or carry content as their editors see fit, within the broad provisions of New Zealand’s media regulations. However, in light of the trends identified in this analysis, it is an open question whether or not these outlet should, as a matter of ethics, be platforming certain perspectives through what seems to be a singular, and ultimately narrow, lens.
I bet the authors are not calling for restrictions and control of other biased media like the NZ Herald which routinely carries water for the National Party.
It should come as no surprise to anybody that the Chinese community would boost and prefer chinese candidates and would have a more favourable view of China. Same thing could be said for the Indian community, Muslim community, Maori community, or any other community in this country.
Finally the article makes no mention of how the government of China is "interfering" with these news agencies let alone why such an interference is any different than the interference our own government makes on english speaking media.
As for the so called police stations the article says nothing about them.
Frankly I for one am sick and tired of the yellow menace scare mongering and the beating of the war drums. I don't want to make China our enemies, I don't want to go to war with them, I don't want to cut off trade or relationships with them.
Finally I am more afraid of the United States influence in our media and government than the Chinese. It wasn't China that ordered an armed raid on Dotcom, it wasn't China that sent the police to the media outlets and threatened to arrest them if they published a transcription of the teapot tapes.