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Chinese embassies in Southeast Asia have been using local media to tell a positive “China’s story” in the region, with a core theme of the messaging being Beijing’s denunciation of Western
narratives about its domestic politics and foreign policies, according to a recent report. Advertisement China regards these narratives as driven by a “Cold War mentality” where Western
countries are motivated to demonise its achievements and sabotage solidarity among Asian countries with the ultimate aim of containing its peaceful development, wrote Wang Zheng, author of
“Tell China’s Story Well: Chinese Embassies’ Media Outreach in Southeast Asian Media”. The report is published by the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. To refute Western
narratives of it, China contends it firmly champions multilateralism, free trade, and a rules-based international order as enshrined in the United Nations (UN) charter. To get its message
across, it uses three channels – media events organised by its embassies; signed articles by Chinese leaders and diplomats in local newspapers; and interviews and media briefings by Chinese
ambassadors with local media, wrote Wang, a former visiting fellow at the institute. Advertisement He is currently doing a PhD in political science in the US.