Chinese journalism is expanding its footprint across the Middle East in ways that sharply diverge from Western outlets like CNN. Rather than sending foreign correspondents, China’s CGTN deploys local reporters to tell regional stories, building trust and sidestepping the backlash often directed at U.S. and European media. As CGTN positions itself as a friendlier, non-interventionist alternative to the West, the implications for regional politics, public opinion, and global soft power are profound. Is China’s model of “journalism without interference” winning hearts and minds in the Arab world? And how does it shape local narratives about America?

In this episode, Joshua Yaphe speaks with Adel El Mahrouky, a freelance Middle East correspondent for CGTN. El Mahrouky has two decades of experience reporting from the region.

Music by Ashot Danielyan from Pixabay.