Chinese Propaganda Finds Fertile Ground in Slovak Media Landscape

Former Slovak Television director Štefan Nižňanský recently praised Chinese state television CCTV as propaganda-free following his stay at a “luxury hotel” in China. “They stick strictly to the facts and ask their guests clearly formulated questions relevant to the topic. There’s no commentary, no interruptions, no imposing their own opinions, no propaganda!” Nižňanský wrote in the Slovak disinformation magazine Extra Plus.

His comments stand in stark contrast to the reality of Chinese state media, which operates under direct control of the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda apparatus. Nižňanský, who led Slovak Television from 2008 to 2010, currently serves on the council for the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, which allocates state funding for films and festivals.

Extra Plus did not respond to inquiries about who financed Nižňanský’s trip to China.

The magazine has emerged as a prominent platform for Chinese diplomatic messaging in Slovakia. In a revealing interview with Chinese Ambassador Cai Ge, Editor-in-Chief Lenka Mayerová posed questions that experts describe as obsequious, including asking how China manages “to protect morality and preserve traditional Chinese values” while “resisting the decadence of the West.”

The ambassador regularly contributes articles to Extra Plus, promoting China’s vision for “global governance” and highlighting economic opportunities for Slovakia through China’s five-year plans. The magazine has extensively covered the ambassador’s meetings with Slovak government officials, including Sports Minister Rudolf Huliak, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, and Parliament Speaker Richard Raši.

Extra Plus did not respond to questions about whether it has a paid partnership with the Chinese embassy.

The magazine has a history of promoting pro-government narratives in Slovakia. Before the 2023 parliamentary elections, it championed Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer-SSD party. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Extra Plus conducted a major campaign supporting now-President Peter Pellegrini, distributing free copies across Slovakia. The funding source for this campaign remains unexplained, as the company reported profits of only €5,400 in 2024.

“China uses a variety of tools to shape narratives in its favor,” explains Matej Šimalčík, Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies. “These range from publishing statements by Chinese diplomats and establishing international media partnerships to collaborating with influencers and inviting journalists on paid trips to China.”

Last year, 12 Slovak parliamentarians and Eduard Chmelár — a former advisor to Prime Minister Fico — visited China on fully-funded trips. The Slovak Information Service (SIS) has previously warned about Chinese propaganda activities, noting in a 2019 report that “Chinese diaspora and local media are used for propaganda” with a “particular risk factor” being their “close connection to Chinese intelligence services.”

Beyond Extra Plus, China has established a network of media outlets for its messaging. The website Nové slovo regularly publishes articles by Chinese ambassadors, including a recent commentary by Ambassador Cai Ge asserting that Taiwan belongs to China. When questioned about these practices, editor Oľga Gáfriková stated, “We see no reason to respond.”

Hlavný denník also publishes articles by Chinese officials, often under the name of its editor-in-chief Ivan Mihale, who described the arrangement as “a friendly collaboration” that is “not paid content.” Other outlets promoting Chinese viewpoints include Veci verejné, Dav Dva, Zem a vek, and TVorba.

Ambassador Cai Ge’s effectiveness stems partly from his Slovak language fluency, which “allows him to communicate more effectively with Slovak stakeholders at various levels,” according to Šimalčík. The current Slovak government’s friendly stance toward China has created “an environment in which it is more difficult for non-governmental actors to reject potentially problematic aspects of cooperation with China.”

Even mainstream business publication Trend has faced scrutiny for publishing what appeared to be an interview with the Chinese ambassador that was entirely prepared by the Chinese embassy. Trend’s editor-in-chief Ronald Ižip acknowledged, “It wasn’t an interview but a commentary in which the author asked [himself] questions and answered them.”

In a concerning development, Chinese state news agency CCTV+ has been approaching Slovak media outlets with offers of free video content and revenue-generating opportunities. “You can generate revenue by distributing the news content we recommend,” the agency promises in its pitches, even offering to invite media representatives to China.

“This payment model could be particularly appealing to disinformation outlets, which China could finance in this way,” warns Šimalčík, highlighting the unusual arrangement where a news agency would pay media outlets rather than the traditional reverse model.

As China’s influence operations in Slovak media continue to expand, concerns grow about the uncritical amplification of Chinese propaganda narratives within Slovakia’s information landscape.