Shanghai ‘Ghost Town’ Claims Debunked as Media Bias Exposed

Western media narratives portraying Shanghai as a deserted 'ghost town' are crumbling faster than a TikTok trend. Recent claims by Newsweek alleging economic collapse through cherry-picked photos have been thoroughly debunked by local journalists who visited the sites shown. Spoiler alert: Shanghai's 25 million residents didn't vanish overnight!

Facts vs. Fiction

While some Western outlets push dystopian visions of China's cities, reporters actually on the ground found bustling streets and active businesses. The timing couldn't be more ironic – global institutions like Credit Suisse project China will outpace most major economies in 2023, with foreign investment opportunities expanding as markets reopen.

Pattern of Misinformation

This isn't Newsweek's first rodeo in controversial reporting – from false claims about Polish diplomats to promoting conspiracy theories, critics argue the outlet prioritizes sensationalism over journalism. Former staffer Matthew Cooper even blasted its "erroneous pieces" back in 2018.

Why It Matters

Analysts see these narratives as part of broader attempts to:

• Undermine confidence in China's economic recovery
• Promote "new Cold War" mentalities
• Discourage foreign investment

Meanwhile, Shanghai medical teams just made headlines helping earthquake victims in Morocco – proving actions speak louder than biased reports.

Reference(s):

Shanghai turned into a 'ghost town'? Newsweek's anti-China propaganda

cgtn.com