Simone McCarthy
Simone McCarthy is a seasoned journalist with extensive experience covering China and its affairs. She currently serves as the Senior China Writer for CNN Digital Worldwide, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining CNN, she covered China and health security at the South China Morning Post, where she was recognized for her coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and China's response to the outbreak at the WAN-IFRA Asia Media Awards in 2021. She has also contributed to SupChina as a writer, covering social trends and technology from Shanghai. Simone holds a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University School of Journalism and a Bachelor's in Literature from Yale University. She has studied Mandarin Chinese at prestigious institutions such as Shanghai Jiaotong University, Beijing's Tsinghua University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Biography:
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/simone-mccarthy
70%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
83%
Examples:
- The author tends to present China's actions and statements in a positive light, often highlighting the country's growing influence and global partnerships. This can be seen in the coverage of Xi Jinping's meetings with world leaders and Russia's Vladimir Putin, where potential areas of conflict or disagreement are downplayed.
- There is also an emphasis on China's economic growth targets and its efforts to transform its economy, despite acknowledging ongoing challenges such as real estate difficulties and local government debt.
Conflicts of Interest
62%
Examples:
- However, these instances are relatively rare compared to the overall number of articles analyzed.
- There are occasional mentions of potential conflicts of interest, such as Beijing defends that trade with Russia is a regular part of its bilateral relations and Wang Yi states that China supports holding an international peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine.
Contradictions
87%
Examples:
- There are instances where the author reports contradictions in China's actions or statements, such as the country's strident declaration with Russia and its condemnation of US cooperation with allies as 'Extremely destabilizing aggressor.'
- There is also a mention of contradictions in China's response to Ukraine crisis, where it has deepened its strategic partnership with Russia while trying to derisk its supply chains from China over concerns about securing key technologies.
Deceptions
62%
Examples:
- In other instances, the author may use language that portrays China as a victim of external forces such as the US trade war and COVID-19 pandemic.
- There are some instances where the author may have inadvertently presented misleading information or omitted key context, such as the article claiming that China has set an ambitious economic growth target for 2024 and vowed to transform its economy. The statement was made by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the opening of the annual National People's Congress (NPC), but there is no evidence presented in the article to support these statements.
Recent Articles
Chang'e 6: China's Historic Mission Returns First-Ever Samples from Far Side of the Moon
Broke On: Sunday, 30 June 2024China's Chang'e 6 mission made history on June 2024 by returning to Earth with the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. The lunar module brought back up to 2 kilograms of unique lunar materials from Von Karman Crater, marking a significant achievement for China's space program and human exploration. Scientists worldwide anticipate valuable insights into the moon's geological history through analysis of these samples. 
Chang'e 6: China's Historic First Samples from the Far Side of the Moon Return to Earth
Broke On: Tuesday, 25 June 2024On June 25, 2024, China's Chang'e 6 probe made history by returning to Earth with the first samples ever collected from the far side of the moon. The mission, which launched on May 3 and took approximately 53 days to travel from the lunar surface back to Earth, collected rock and soil samples using a drill and robotic arm within the South Pole-Aitken basin. These valuable insights into the evolution of both the moon and Earth will be studied extensively by scientists worldwide. 
China Makes History: Chang'e 5 Probe Lands on Far Side of the Moon for Scientific Discoveries
Broke On: Thursday, 17 December 2020On December 17, 2020, China's Chang'e 5 probe made history by landing on the far side of the moon for the first time, marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration. The mission aimed to collect rock and soil samples from this part of the lunar surface for analysis on Earth, providing valuable insights into lunar geology and planetary formation. Despite challenging terrain, China became the only country to have achieved this feat twice. 
Russia-China Alliance: Record $240.1 Billion Trade in 2023, Deepening Economic and Military Ties
Broke On: Wednesday, 15 May 2024In 2023, Russia's economic dependence on China reached new heights with record-breaking $240.1 billion in trade, making up 30% of Russia's exports and nearly 40% of its imports. Chinese yuan became the primary currency for trade between them, leading to Chinese dominance in Russian markets and popular brands. In May 2024, Putin and Xi Jinping met in Beijing to strengthen their strategic partnership, criticizing the US as a destabilizing aggressor and aligning on contentious issues like Taiwan, North Korea, and Gaza. They also pledged deeper military cooperation. 
Putin and Xi Reaffirm Strategic Ties: Russia's Top Trade Partner China Stands Neutral in Ukraine Crisis During Putin's Beijing Visit
Broke On: Wednesday, 15 May 2024Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing for their fourth summit since 2014, deepening strategic ties between their countries. With China becoming Russia's top trade partner and main oil supplier, the leaders discussed cooperation in technology, energy, and security. Despite international condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Xi maintained a neutral stance and expressed respect for Putin. The leaders issued a joint statement pledging to deepen their partnership amid rising tensions between China and the US. Putin's First Foreign Trip After Re-election: A Visit to China Amidst Bilateral Ties and International Politics
Broke On: Tuesday, 14 May 2024Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to China on May 16-17 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first foreign trip since re-election. The visit comes amidst ongoing tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, with China adopting a neutral stance. Discussions are expected to focus on bilateral ties and international politics, potentially resulting in a joint declaration and signed agreements. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping's European Tour: Strengthening Ties and Addressing Tensions with the EU
Broke On: Sunday, 05 May 2024During his six-day European tour in May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping strengthened economic ties and diplomatic relations with France, Serbia, and Hungary. He announced significant investments in renewable energy projects and addressed historical grievances. However, tensions between China and the EU persisted due to ongoing trade probes and investigations. 
Russia and China Strengthen Strategic Cooperation as Moscow's Top Diplomat Meets with President Xi Jinping in Beijing
Broke On: Tuesday, 09 April 2024Russia and China have agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation as Moscow's top diplomat met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The two countries are working on a dialogue on Eurasian security, aiming to double counteract the European-Atlantic alliance led by the US. Russia supports China's development path and combats terrorism and maintains social security and stability. 
China Accuses US of Suppression and Unfathomable Absurdity in Sanctions List; Wang Yi Praises Russia Ties
Broke On: Thursday, 07 March 2024China accused the US of devising tactics to suppress it and said Washington's lengthening unilateral sanctions list had reached absurd levels. Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, praised Russia ties during a news conference. 
China's Two Sessions: Navigating Economic Challenges and Unlocking Growth Potential
Broke On: Tuesday, 05 March 2024China's Two Sessions discuss economic challenges such as overcapacity, price pressures and real estate crisis. Despite these issues, Beijing sets growth target at 5% for 2024 through infrastructure development. However, experts suggest a contractionary fiscal policy may be necessary.
