Over the last decade, the People’s Republic of China has sought to deepen its ties with Pacific Island countries. Beijing’s efforts to cultivate influence in the region have included expanding economic, diplomatic, and security ties with Pacific Island nations, as well as expanding China’s footprint in the region’s media landscape. This talk will present the findings of recent research on China’s efforts to shape reporting, media coverage and narratives in the Pacific Islands and put Beijing’s efforts within the context of the region’s rapidly evolving information landscape.

About the speakers:

Heidi Holz is a Senior Research Scientist at CNA. For close to two decades, her work has focused on PRC strategic communications, propaganda, and influence efforts. She is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where she received a master’s degree in security studies and a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and East Asian history.

Genevieve Collins is a research specialist in the China Studies program at CNA, where her research focuses on the behaviour of China’s state-run media and its reactions to US military operations and activities.

Barbara Dreaver (Discussant) has been the Pacific Reporter for TVNZ 1 News since 2002, breaking stories uncovering social and economic issues affecting Pacific people living in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In 2020, she created a two-year training programme through Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd to support new Pacific journalists across the Pacific region. In the 2024 New Years Honours she was awarded an ONZM for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities.

About CNA: CNA is a non-profit, non-governmental research and analysis organization dedicated to providing independent and objective analyses to the U.S. government and the public. This talk will build on previous CNA research on China and the Pacific Islands media landscape which you can find at www.cna.org.