Platforms versus agents: the third-party mediation role of CGTN's news commentary programs in China's Media Going Global plan

Since the 2019 televised debate on the US-China trade war between China Global Television Network (CGTN) host Liu Xin and Fox Business Network host Trish Regan, China's flagship international broadcaster CGTN has placed more emphasis than before on producing news commentary programs. By inviting commentators from China and other developing countries to participate in discussions, CGTN has sought to balance the views emanating from the Global North and the Global South. Drawing upon the content of these programs from 2020 through 2022 and on interviews with 13 intellectuals and program guests in and outside China, this paper explores this strategic shift and conceptualizes the role of these news commentary programs, arguing that, by vigorously promoting news commentary programs, CGTN now plays a third-party mediation role in China's Media Going Global plan. This role differs according to the theme under discussion, however, with the broadcaster either providing a platform for discussing sensitive issues or serving as a cooperative agent with experts from the Global South.