中文
By Zhou Ting
In February, France 2's Cash Investigation aired an episode purportedly exposing "child labor" and "forced labor involving Xinjiang and even workers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" in Chinese factories. However, a closer examination reveals a smear campaign orchestrated by two long-term French "independent journalists" stationed in China. Their methods relied on leading questions, deception and the outright fabrication of evidence to tarnish China's image.
Journalistic professionalism, a cornerstone of modern media, emphasizes objectivity, truthfulness and independence. It demands rigorous ethical standards and professional skills, ensuring accurate and balanced information dissemination. Unfortunately, some Western media outlets, in their coverage of China, prioritize ideological agendas over journalistic integrity. France 2's Cash Investigation serves as a prime example, beginning with a "presumption of guilt" and subsequently manipulating information to fit a preordained narrative.
Consider the following instances: A young girl accompanying her mother during summer vacation was deceptively portrayed as "child labor" by prompting her to "demonstrate sewing a button." Similarly, references to "full attendance bonuses" and "extra day bonuses" in the Shandong dialect were distorted to falsely imply the presence of Xinjiang or DPRK workers, alleging "forced labor." These crude and absurd tactics, designed to smear China, expose a stark discrepancy between Western media's professed standards and their actual practices.
Furthermore, the program attempted to bolster its credibility by featuring Adrian Zenz, a German anti-China "expert" sanctioned by the Chinese government in 2021. Zenz, notorious for fabricating reports on Xinjiang to support Western anti-China narratives and spread disinformation, lends no credibility to the program. In this episode, two "independent journalists" and a discredited "political pundit" staged a performance for French television, disseminating false narratives to mislead the public.
The resulting video faced widespread condemnation from Western netizens, with French and English comments denouncing its fabrications. Faced with public backlash, the program's producers resorted to "hiding" the video, a move that not only revealed the falsity of its content but also exposed the farcical nature of certain Western media attempts to manipulate global opinion.
France prides itself on its tradition of rationalism and critical thinking, valuing the idea that "truth becomes clearer through debate." Yet, on issues like Xinjiang, some French media have abandoned this tradition, blindly adhering to pre-established narratives and fabricating facts to cater to biases.
These journalists and scholars must recognize that in today's rapidly evolving media landscape, Western audiences are no longer confined to traditional media's one-sided narratives. They access diverse information sources and rely on personal experiences. Their perceptions cannot be easily manipulated by fabricated stories. Those who engage in deception will inevitably face consequences, having overestimated their ability to distort the truth and underestimated the audience's ability to discern it.
The root of this anti-China bias warrants reflection. Is it driven by fear of China's rise or anxiety over the decline of Western hegemony? This bias manifests as a "struggle for discourse power." As China's global influence expands, some Western media and scholars appear trapped in a "zero-sum" mindset, attempting to maintain ideological dominance through the denigration of China.
However, this strategy is proving unsustainable. China's continued high-level opening-up and the growing "China Travel" trend are enabling more overseas individuals to experience the real China. The "demonized" image of China propagated by Western media is being debunked by factual encounters.
For Western media, abandoning anti-China bias and adhering to journalistic professionalism is not only an ethical imperative but also a crucial step in restoring credibility. For China, continued promotion of opening up and strengthened international communication efforts are essential to presenting a true, multifaceted and comprehensive picture of the nation, thereby dismantling Western media biases.
Zhou Ting, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, and professor of International Communication, is the Executive Dean of the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies at Communication University of China.
