China Daily
Founded in June 1981, China Daily has blossomed into China’s most widely circulated English‑language newspaper.. Its main editorial hub is located in Chaoyang, Beijing, with branch offices across all major Chinese cities and overseas bureaus in New York, Washington, London, Kathmandu, and Nairobi, among others.
Media assets
Publishing: China Daily (Zhōngguó Qīngnián Bào), China Daily Hong Kong, China Daily Asia Weekly, China Daily US Edition, China Daily European Weekly, China Daily Africa
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Formally owned and overseen by the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department, China Daily operates under tight editorial control, with its messaging and tone aligned with party directives.
Qu Yingpu is indeed the current Editor-in-Chief and President of China Daily. He stepped into this role in April 2022 after a long tenure with the organization. Born in 1965, Qu Yingpu has a background in English language and literature, international journalism, and public administration, having studied at Shanghai International Studies University and Harvard University. Prior to becoming Editor-in-Chief and President, he held several positions at China Daily, including deputy director of the Economic News Department, director of the Chief Editor’s Office, chief editor of the Hong Kong edition, and deputy chief editor.
Source of funding and budget
Although China Daily refrains from disclosing detailed financial statements, independent observers affirm that its operations benefit significantly from state underwriting. The daily has channelled substantial resources into the United States, buying advertising space in leading American newspapers to distribute its content to foreign audiences.
Editorial independence
True editorial independence remains elusive. Content consistently favors pro-government narratives, and the newspaper has been faulted for publishing inaccuracies and propagandistic distortions. It has been implicated in disseminating dubious content—from misattributed quotes to politically laden narratives—leading to criticism from international media and watchdogs.
The newspaper is used as a vehicle for promoting China’s vision abroad, evidenced by “China Watch,” a sponsored supplement previously carried by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others until several media partners severed ties over concerns about propaganda. . In March 2025, U.S. Congressional Republicans banned its distribution on Capitol Hill, and UK MPs called for reviewing its free circulation to legislators
August 2025