China has used pandemic to boost global image, report says

While Covid-19 crisis has led to more positive reporting on Beijing, global news outlets have become more reliant on official views

Over the past year, researchers who study China have begun closely scrutinising how the country is positioning itself in a world that its leader, Xi Jinping, has said is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century".

Supporters say that as a major player in international politics, China's viewpoint deserves to be heard. Opponents, however, worry that the world's media are becoming too credulous of China.