Media, self-media, and the public opinion ecosystem.
US President Trump announced, effective immediately, a ban on CNN, MSNBC, Politico, and other media outlets accused of long-standing fake news reporting from entering the White House, and specifically criticized Politico for accepting huge government subscription contracts during the Biden administration.
On September 5, a netizen reported that while traveling in Shenzhen, they clarified to the anti-fraud police who came to their door for investigation that they had not been scammed, but their father still received a warning text message notifying the family. This triggered comments from multiple netizens who shared similar experiences of being harassed and having their privacy leaked.
On September 11, 2026, Jiayuguan police in Gansu reported that the widely circulated story of a man being threatened after stopping financial support for students was a self-directed and self-performed act by Yao Moumou to gain followers. Previously, commentary from Duowei Media was taken offline and deleted.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Foreign Ministry, when asked by reporters whether Xi Jinping would attend the BRICS meeting around September 12, responded, “We will speak when there is news, it is not convenient to answer,” implying that Xi Jinping may not travel to India.
The federal court in the Eastern District of New York has begun jury selection and the trial for the Huawei case, with Judge Ann Donnelly presiding. Prosecutors accuse Huawei of 20 years of theft, lying, and cover-ups, involving 12 charges, including using the Hong Kong-based company Skycom to conduct business in Iran to deceive U.S. and European banks, stealing trade secrets, and obstruction of justice.
On February 2, 2026, the Jinjiang Branch of the Chengdu Public Security Bureau announced that former investigative journalist Liu Hu and self-media person Wu Yingjiao were subject to criminal coercive measures on suspicion of fabricating accusations to frame others and illegal business operations. The two had previously published reports alleging that Pu Fayou, the Party Secretary of Pujang County, was suspected of illegally seizing corporate assets. The incident sparked condemnation from journalist organizations and public opinion both at home and abroad. On February 14, the police, citing the application of the two individuals, changed the coercive measures to release on bail pending trial in accordance with Article 67 of the Criminal Procedure Law. On September 10, 2026, defense lawyer Zhou Ze released the decision of the Jinjiang Branch to lift the bail pending trial, citing 'changes in the case circumstances,' and Liu Hu would not need to stand trial. Liu Hu had previously filed real-name reports against several high-ranking officials between 2012 and 2013, leading to multiple detentions.