LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate The East Is Read Left-Center biased based on its story selection, which aligns with establishment-friendly Chinese policy narratives and pro-globalization perspectives. We also rate them Mostly Factual due to accurate translations and contextual explanations, with deductions for limited financial transparency and reliance on state-linked Chinese sources.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-3.0)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (3.6)
Country: China
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
The East Is Read is a China-focused translation and analysis newsletter hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), a prominent Beijing-based non-governmental think tank with consultative UN ECOSOC status. Founded and edited by Zichen Wang, a former Xinhua News Agency correspondent who later joined CCG full-time, the newsletter summarizes, translates, and annotates Chinese-language policy material, speeches, and academic work. The publication is cited by outlets such as The New York Times and Financial Times and is positioned as a resource for policymakers, journalists, scholars, and analysts. The project is supported by Substack subscriptions and has related newsletters, including Pekingnology and CCG Update.
Read our profile on the Chinese Government and Media.
Funded by / Ownership
The East Is Read operates under CCG, which is led by Henry Huiyao Wang and Mabel Lu Miao, as described in its About page. CCG is officially designated a “4A non-governmental organization” by Beijing authorities, indicating legal registration under China’s state-supervised NGO framework. While the think tank brands itself as “independent,” it operates in a regulatory environment in which civil society groups must align with state policy priorities. Financial transparency is limited: CCG does not publish donor lists, revenue statements, or funding sources. Subscription fees through Substack support the newsletter’s editorial work, but institutional financial disclosure remains minimal.
Analysis / Bias
The East Is Read presents itself as a neutral translator, and its format, publishing verbatim translations of Chinese policy texts, generally avoids overt editorializing. However, its institutional home at CCG and its consistent selection of establishment-friendly Chinese academic and policy voices result in subtle but identifiable ideological framing: the material tends to reflect mainstream PRC strategic narratives without counterpoints. This is visible in the translation of Hu Bo’s foreign policy commentary in “The Decline of U.S. Maritime Hegemony Exposed by Nimitz Aircraft Crashes”, originally published through World Affairs, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs–affiliated publication. While the newsletter accurately translates the text, the chosen material amplifies arguments emphasizing U.S. decline, strategic overstretch, and the rise of China’s naval capabilities. The newsletter provides context but does not challenge underlying state-aligned interpretations.
Similarly, “Succession Challenges for China’s Private Enterprises” offers an academic analysis of family corporate governance but includes uncritical references to Xi Jinping’s directives on private-enterprise modernization. The article is framed analytically, but its sourcing reflects official narratives that emphasize “self-revolution,” “advanced management systems,” and ideological alignment with state mandates for long-term private-sector development.
The publication occasionally features commentary by CCG leadership, such as Henry Huiyao Wang’s argument for renewed U.S.–China cooperation in “In a globalised world, the US and China must build bridges, not walls”, originally published in the South China Morning Post. While presented neutrally, the perspective aligns closely with CCG’s long-standing advocacy for globalization and liberalized international engagement—positions consistent with China’s official diplomatic messaging.
In general, bias emerges primarily through story selection rather than tone—articles disproportionately emphasize pro-engagement, establishment-aligned, or strategically framed Chinese perspectives while omitting dissident, oppositional, or independent-sector Chinese voices. This produces a generally Left-Center orientation when mapped onto Western ideological frameworks, though it is shaped more by think-tank diplomacy than by domestic political leanings.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate The East Is Read Left-Center biased based on its story selection, which aligns with establishment-friendly Chinese policy narratives and pro-globalization perspectives. We also rate them Mostly Factual due to accurate translations and contextual explanations, with deductions for limited financial transparency and reliance on state-linked Chinese sources. (D. Van Zandt 12/09/2025)
Source: https://www.eastisread.com/
Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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