The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 16 April 2024 an analysis titled "China's Strategy to Shape Africa's Media Space" by Paul Nantulya.
The author describes a global strategy by the Communist Party of China (CPC) to gain influence in developing countries by shaping their information environments. This raises concerns about the effect that China's heavy media penetration is having on shaping public perceptions in ways that promote Chinese interests even when they undermine African citizen interests.
Thousands of African journalists participate annually in media exchanges in China. Money is the key; Chinese media entities support many African media houses struggling with poor equipment, low salaries, and tight budgets. Nevertheless, the author concludes the effectiveness of Chinese messaging is mixed.
