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