(Central News Agency reporter Li Zongxian, Bangkok, 8th) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pointed out that China has expanded its influence on Thai media in recent years through diplomatic pressure, media cooperation and inviting Thai journalists to visit China. Some Thai journalists are worried that Beijing’s influence may weaken the independence of news editors and promote media self-censorship.
Reporters Without Borders issued an article on the 6th stating that they interviewed many Thai journalists and found that the Chinese government, through the embassy in Thailand, pressured Thai media to avoid publishing content that Beijing does not agree with. Most of the interviewees requested anonymity to avoid reprisal.
As an example in this article, Thai PBS broadcast an exclusive interview with then Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on November 3, 2023, and made the complete interview public on the Internet. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand subsequently issued a statement, criticizing Thai public television for providing a platform for "Taiwan independence elements" to spread fallacies, harming China and its people, and abusing press freedom.
Reporters Without Borders noted that many journalists have mentioned instances in which Chinese diplomats have confronted individual journalists over certain reports that Beijing considers sensitive.
One of the high-profile cases was that in 2022, a Thai journalist was questioned by Chinese embassy personnel at a diplomatic occasion in Bangkok about his reporting on China's persecution of Uyghurs, and was warned that his media would no longer be allowed to interview the Chinese ambassador in the future.
The article also mentioned that in August 2025, an art exhibition held by the Bangkok Art and Culture Center came under pressure from Chinese embassy officials because it involved Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang issues. As a result, the organizer removed the relevant works and modified the exhibition label text. Reuters reported the story, but only a few Thai media outlets followed up.
Later, Thai media Khaosod English senior reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk published a commentary on the incident. The media counselor of the Chinese Embassy went to the newspaper office during the exhibition and told Pravit Rojanaphruk that "Beijing's one-China policy cannot be questioned."
In addition to diplomatic pressure, China also expands its influence through media cooperation and news exchanges. The article pointed out that China's official Xinhua News Agency, China Radio International (CRI) and China Global Television Network (CGTN), both affiliated to China Central Radio and Television, have increased the production of Thai news content in recent years and signed content cooperation agreements with many Thai media.
As of the end of 2019, at least 12 Thai media platforms have signed content cooperation agreements with Xinhua News Agency; the Thai government public relations department also maintains multiple cooperation agreements with Xinhua News Agency and Chinese media groups.
In addition, Chinese government agencies have long invited Thai media workers to visit China, arranging interviews with officials and visits to government construction drawings. A Thai journalist who has participated in China's infrastructure construction tour told Reporters Without Borders that the tour mainly presented one-sided information, such as emphasizing China's projects on the Mekong River and how the China-Liaoning railway can help eradicate poverty.
Teeranai Charuvastra, former vice president of the Journalists Association of Thailand, once pointed out that it is quite common for Chinese government agencies to sponsor Thai media personnel to visit China.
The Thailand-China Journalists Association will also invite Thai media workers to China in 2026 to learn about AI applications and new content production methods.
Thai journalist Prawit said such Chinese pressure could prompt self-censorship in Thai newsrooms. "When journalists see that their editors frequently travel to China, they naturally become more cautious," he said.
Reporters Without Borders pointed out that the deterioration of the operating environment of Thailand’s news industry has also made the media more susceptible to external influence. According to Radio Free Asia, more than 300 news organizations in Thailand will lay off employees in 2024. The Thai Journalists Association described that year as a difficult year for the journalism industry.
An unnamed Thai journalist told Reporters Without Borders that several mainstream Thai TV reporters have transferred to Chinese media.
Aleksandra Bielakowska, Initiatives Manager at Reporters Without Borders' Asia-Pacific office, said the extent to which Chinese propaganda has penetrated Thai media and caused self-censorship is worrying, directly undermining the independence of newsrooms.
Bai Oran pointed out that China attempts to shape the media narrative through diplomatic pressure from the embassy, media investment, funding of journalist visits and formal cooperation agreements.
The 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders shows that Thailand ranks 92nd among 180 countries and regions, falling 7 places from 2025.
