🇨🇳 South China Morning Post

About South China Morning Post

The South China Morning Post (SCMP), an English-language newspaper based in Hong Kong, was acquired by Alibaba Group, a Chinese multinational technology conglomerate, for HK$2 billion (US$266 million) in April 2016. Alibaba's co-founder, Joseph Tsai, stated that a motive for the acquisition was to present a 'fair and accurate' view of China, countering what he perceived as Western media bias. The SCMP's CEO reports to a board that includes Alibaba executives and independent directors.

Since its acquisition by Alibaba Group in 2016, concerns have been raised regarding the South China Morning Post's editorial independence and potential self-censorship. Critics, including The New York Times, Der Spiegel, and The Atlantic, have alleged that the paper is on a mission to promote China's soft power abroad, with academic studies indicating a shift in its editorial stance closer to the Chinese government's position. Media Bias/Fact Check noted in 2017 that the SCMP's narrative became more pro-China after the acquisition. A notable controversy involved a former senior editor resigning after the outlet rejected a three-month investigation into human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region, citing a failure to meet 'editorial verification process and publishing standards.' This aligns with broader reports from Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House, which consistently rank China as one of the world's most repressive countries for press freedom, with tight state control ov