Contradictions in coverage: Chinese media & the Ukraine war

Many Chinese media outlets have “an outstanding capability to maintain a state of denial, to say things that are clearly not true” — but not all have spread propaganda about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, says Melinda Liu, Newsweek's bureau chief in Beijing.

State-run media are trying to show some of what's going on in Ukraine, and (part of) Chinese social media is showing sympathy for Ukrainians, Liu tells Ian Bremmer in a GZERO World interview. Still, much of the focus remains on Russian casualties.

As a result of different media “tonalities,” Liu explains that outlets are contradicting themselves.

Chinese coverage of the war hasn’t been consistent, and neither is China’s historical relationships with Ukraine and Russia.

Watch the GZERO World episode: China’s discontent & the Russia distraction