Publication

This analysis examines Chinese efforts to help national governments, both democratic and authoritarian, to expand access to the internet and mobile telephony across Africa. The authors explain that for China, media expansion in Africa is a part of its “Going Out” and “soft power” strategies to extend the country’s influence in new sectors and locations. However they also say that for some Africans, a Chinese-built telecommunications infrastructure is a cybersecurity concern and the tendency of Chinese media to promote “positive reporting” is a threat to independent watchdog journalism.