LAGOS, Nigeria – Reports of Nigerian news editors allegedly receiving inducements from Chinese entities to censor negative stories about China have emerged, according to leading media scholar on China and Africa, Bob Wekesa.
This revelation comes amid mounting concerns over China’s expanding efforts to export its total state control of information model.
Dr Wekesa, who has gained in-depth insight into China’s media and information landscape through his work as a journalist in Kenya, a doctoral student at the Communication University of China, and a professor in South Africa, expresses concern over some authoritarian leaders finding this approach attractive.
“In China, information is seen as an asset, a resource,” Wekesa shared in a recent interview with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. “Much like economic assets building cars and machines. This has put China in an information war.”
The extent of China’s global influence campaign is underscored by the estimated annual investment of over $10 billion in global information efforts.
According to a 2022 report by Freedom House, China, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, has fast-tracked a large-scale campaign to shape media content and sway news consumers globally.
Freedom House studied China’s media influence in 30 countries from January 2019 to December 2021.
The report highlighted an observable expansion in China’s efforts to direct media narratives worldwide, while revealing that billions of dollars are invested annually in foreign propaganda and censorship.
On the African continent, the intensity of China’s influence attempts varies.
The Freedom House report classified influence efforts as “very high” in Nigeria, where the Chinese embassy reportedly paid to journalists and engaged with editors to suppress negative coverage.
To institutionalize its exportation of state-controlled media, China has organized journalist training programs and all-expense-paid exchange visits.
“They become somewhat journalistic ambassadors for Beijing to the continent, helping to establish relations in their newsrooms and encouraging their colleagues to utilise as much Chinese content as possible,” Wekesa pointed out.
China’s official news agency, Xinhua, has significant influence in Africa with 37 bureaus – the highest of any media agency on the continent. Several African media companies have signed content-sharing and cooperation agreements with Xinhua.
China’s influence strategy also includes acquiring ownership stakes in African media companies, advocating for favourable news coverage, and enforcing censorship practices.
China’s influence extends to the telecommunications sector too. Wekesa warns of the potential privacy and security vulnerabilities of Chinese technology and surveillance tools, which allow governments to monitor, block websites and even shut down internet access.
As Africa transitions from analog to digital broadcasting and publishing, largely facilitated by Chinese technology and loans, Wekesa urges African media to remain vigilant.
As he anticipates an influx of Chinese media technology, including cameras and broadcasting vehicles, he advises due diligence to ensure such technologies do not pose a threat to African audiences or media establishments.
