The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Associate Professor Dr. Wang Changsong from the School of Communication for his recent book published by Xiamen University Press: News Coverage of Fujian Soft Power by Chinese News Outlets in Singapore and Malaysia.

China has retained its position as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) largest trading partner since 2009. Economic and scientific collaboration has become an important and dynamic aspect of China-ASEAN relations. Fujian has deepened comprehensive exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN across various domains, including economy, trade, industry, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, injecting momentum into the advancement of China-ASEAN relations.

Among the ASEAN member states, Singapore and Malaysia, both boasting substantial economic prowess, have played indispensable roles in fostering regional stability and cooperation. Significantly, Singapore and Malaysia are home to sizable populations of overseas Chinese originating from Fujian, who have assimilated deeply into local societies over successive generations, thus constituting integral elements of the social and cultural tapestry of both nations. Concurrently, these overseas Chinese communities have also established comprehensive Chinese-language news publishing systems in Singapore and Malaysia. Fujian Province and its associated themes recurrently feature in the reports of these Chinese-language newspapers from their inception to the present, progressively underscoring the role of Fujian’s soft power in this narrative.

This project provides an in-depth analysis of the coverage of Fujian’s soft power by Chinese-language newspapers and their news portals in Singapore and Malaysia from 2013 to 2022. By collecting, organizing, and analyzing a collection of news reports, this project presents the multi-dimensional portrayal of Fujian’s soft power by Chinese media in Singapore and Malaysia, offering readers a unique perspective to gain a profound understanding of Fujian's image and influence on the international stage.