Global Times

Global Times, known also as Huanqiu Shibao and 环球时报, is a Chinese newspaper organization that operates across linguistic and geographic boundaries. It functions as a media entity publishing content in both Chinese and English, thereby serving domestic Chinese audiences and an international readership. The organization engages in digital activism alongside its traditional news reporting, as demonstrated by its operation of online petition platforms to mobilize public opinion on specific geopolitical issues. Its activities extend beyond daily journalism to include organized public campaigns that seek to influence international discourse, particularly concerning China's relations with other nations. The newspaper frames its initiatives within narratives that reflect official Chinese government positions on matters of foreign policy and global health governance. Through its multilingual platforms, it disseminates perspectives aimed at shaping both domestic and overseas perceptions of China's stance on international affairs. The scope of its operations indicates a strategic intent to participate in global information flows, presenting viewpoints that counter narratives it perceives as unfavorable to China's interests. Its core service is the production and distribution of news and commentary, supplemented by direct public engagement tools like petitions to rally support for specific political objectives.

The organization's capacity for large-scale public mobilization was evident in July 2021 when it operated a petition website demanding an investigation into a US biological laboratory. This campaign successfully recorded over 11.4 million signatures, a figure that underscores its significant reach and ability to galvanize substantial public participation. The initiative was explicitly linked to calls for the World Health Organization to probe the facility, reflecting the newspaper's role in amplifying Chinese official concerns regarding laboratory safety and unexplained respiratory outbreaks in the United States. Following cyberattacks on the petition servers, which were attributed to US-based hackers, Global Times publicly condemned the incident as an exposure of fear among certain US interests, framing the attack as a reaction to legitimate global demands for accountability. The organization characterized the event as evidence of public anger over perceived US political manipulation and a broader international desire for transparency. This incident highlights a distinguishing attribute: the integration of journalistic platforms with coordinated political advocacy, consistently aligning with state-promoted narratives on US-China tensions. The newspaper's response to the cyberattack, including its preparation for further incidents and its portrayal of the event as a testament to its mission, illustrates a self-perceived role as a defender of national interests against foreign interference. Its operational model combines media reporting with direct action campaigns, positioning it as an active participant in geopolitical debates rather than a passive observer. The sustained operation of the petition despite attacks further indicates a structured approach to digital activism with resilience planning.