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THREAD Ok, ppl, a few have asked what& #39;s wrong w/ Chinese officials publishing op-eds in Indian newspapers. Here& #39;s a thread re some concerns that I hope will provide some food for thought.
ps I& #39;d hv the same concerns re other countries& #39; officials if they operated the same way 1/
ps I& #39;d hv the same concerns re other countries& #39; officials if they operated the same way 1/
There are 2 issues here that are related but distinct:
1. Chinese govt advertorials in Indian (& other) newspapers
2. Chinese officials& #39; numerous op-eds in Indian newspapers
I& #39;ll address the op-ed issue first... 2/
1. Chinese govt advertorials in Indian (& other) newspapers
2. Chinese officials& #39; numerous op-eds in Indian newspapers
I& #39;ll address the op-ed issue first... 2/
The caveats first:
- this isn& #39;t abt publishing a foreign official& #39;s op-ed per se -- no. of countries do this, GoI officials publish op-eds in newspapers in other countries too.
- the logic behind it is fair enough: gives a glimpse of another country& #39;s perspective/party line. 3/
- this isn& #39;t abt publishing a foreign official& #39;s op-ed per se -- no. of countries do this, GoI officials publish op-eds in newspapers in other countries too.
- the logic behind it is fair enough: gives a glimpse of another country& #39;s perspective/party line. 3/
But there are specific issues w/r/t Chinese officials& #39; op-ed writing in Indian newspapers that make them (i) different (ii) cause for concern. Here are a few:
a. frequency
b. content style
c. taking them at their word
d. lack of reciprocity
e. mislabeling
More on each below. 4/
a. frequency
b. content style
c. taking them at their word
d. lack of reciprocity
e. mislabeling
More on each below. 4/
Frequency: in the last couple of months, there have been at least 6 op-eds by Chinese officials in Indian newspapers. This is unusual and almost like the Chinese missions in India have a regular column. 5/
Style/Protocol: while Chinese officials hv refrained from the vitriolic "wolf warrior" approach we& #39;ve seen from PRC diplos in other countries, their op-eds don& #39;t hesitate to attack Indian partners by name or touch on issues sensitive in/to India. (+ no reciprocity here) 6/
An Open Field: Chinese officials& #39; op-eds are one-sided. That is to be expected. But esp since they& #39;re so prolific/keen, newspapers should consider:
- publishing a different view on the same op-ed page that day
- insisting on interviews instead/also w/o pre-approved questions 7/
- publishing a different view on the same op-ed page that day
- insisting on interviews instead/also w/o pre-approved questions 7/
Lack of reciprocity: (i) style (ii) substance
i) Indian officials do not get this kind of space in Chinese media
ii) when they get space, it has limits. An Indian ambo cldn& #39;t write op-ed
- re Kashmir or Arunachal as PRC amb did abt Tibet
- attacking Pak as PRC amb attacks US. 8/
i) Indian officials do not get this kind of space in Chinese media
ii) when they get space, it has limits. An Indian ambo cldn& #39;t write op-ed
- re Kashmir or Arunachal as PRC amb did abt Tibet
- attacking Pak as PRC amb attacks US. 8/
Mislabeling: there hv now been at least 2 instances of labeling op-eds by the PRC ambo as "analysis" and as representing his "personal views."
A Chinese ambo& #39;s views - unless maybe he& #39;s writing abt his love for Bahrisons - are not personal. They are definitely not analysis. 9/
A Chinese ambo& #39;s views - unless maybe he& #39;s writing abt his love for Bahrisons - are not personal. They are definitely not analysis. 9/
Then there& #39;s the matter - not just in India but in a no. of democracies - of PRC advertorials. I know the commercial motivations for newspapers but a few probs:
- undermines work of newspapers& #39; journos
- lack of proper labeling
- passed off by PRC as coverage rather than ads 10/
- undermines work of newspapers& #39; journos
- lack of proper labeling
- passed off by PRC as coverage rather than ads 10/
On PRC ads undermining newspapers& #39; journos:
- tough to take WP& #39;s "democracy dies in darkness" seriously when they regularly include propaganda insert from an authoritarian state
- i kno biz/reporting sides separate but many will ask if PRC $$ shape reporting/analysis/op-eds 11/
- tough to take WP& #39;s "democracy dies in darkness" seriously when they regularly include propaganda insert from an authoritarian state
- i kno biz/reporting sides separate but many will ask if PRC $$ shape reporting/analysis/op-eds 11/
The labeling/clarity problem w/ PRC ads: we& #39;ve seen this repeatedly. Either labeling noting that the ads aren& #39;t articles is tiny (& only on 1 page) and/or it& #39;s ambiguous ("space mktg initiative). Sometimes it& #39;s non-existent. 12/
Whether newspapers like it or not, the PRC emb can & has passed off these advertorials as media publishing views (rather than "we placed an ad"). e.g. from last month re a full-page ad the Chinese emb placed and which it highlighted as "Indian media publishes special page" 13/
