Is China’s model of “journalism without interference” winning hearts and minds in the Arab world?
As the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies, the battle for influence is playing out on television screens and social media feeds across the Middle East. In the latest episode of the Center for the National Interest’s podcast Divergences, freelance CGTN correspondent Adel El Mahrouky offers a rare insider’s perspective on how China shapes its media strategy in the Arab world and beyond.
Unlike Western networks such as CNN or Al Hurra, Chinese state broadcaster CGTN doesn’t parachute in foreign correspondents. Instead, it relies heavily on local journalists to craft the narrative, a deliberate decision aimed at building trust and avoiding the cultural backlash often directed at Western media. “They want to get local nationals who report on their own story,” says El Mahrouky, “so everything looks familiar, everything sounds familiar. That’s a very important aspect.”
This isn’t just a cosmetic choice. It’s a calculated strategy that positions China as a non-interventionist partner in contrast to the West’s more values-driven messaging. According to El Mahrouky, CGTN carefully avoids editorializing on sensitive political or cultural topics, opting instead to spotlight economic cooperation and developmental success stories, narratives that resonate across a region weary of foreign lecturing. “The content of the Chinese media tends to have more of a friendly tone,” he explains. “You will not find China pointing the finger and saying ‘more human rights, less human rights, more business openness.’”
This strategy appears to be gaining traction. From Cairo to Beirut, CGTN is now widely recognized and even welcomed in areas where Western outlets sometimes face suspicion or hostility. During Egypt’s 2013 political upheaval, for example, El Mahrouky recounts how his affiliation with CGTN granted him access to both pro- and anti-government camps whereas Western crews often found their access curtailed.
The spread of Beijing’s media footprint raises some uncomfortable questions for Washington. What does it mean when a Chinese state-owned outlet becomes a primary source of news for large segments of the Arab world? Is this a win for balanced journalism, or just a slicker form of state messaging?
With media habits in flux, especially among younger Arabs increasingly glued to smartphones rather than television, CGTN’s pivot to social media and local, on-the-ground reporting suggests a savvy, modern approach to soft power.
You can also listen to this episode on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Image: A woman waves the Egyptian flag against Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, 2013 (Shutterstock).
