News as geopolitics: China, CGTN and the 2020 US presidential election

Recently, authoritarian states have invested heavily in state-sponsored international news. Some instrumentalised this news geopolitically, with Russian electoral interference especially prominent. In comparison, we know less about how China’s outlets cover – and try to influence other countries’ politics. This article asks whether China used its media the 2020 US election. It examines CGTN’s coverage of election 2021 Capitol riots, across website, Twitter, Facebook YouTube. Tellingly, it finds no concerted effort outcome. was mostly cautious neutral. Contrastingly, geopolitical entirely one-sided, persistently excoriating while praising China. We identify three values differentiating coverage: deference, relevance (to China), national sovereignty. These reveal function: convey Chinese media’s apparent impartiality, promoting at competitors’ expense.