Investing in Narratives: How Beijing promotes its development projects in the Philippines

As one of the largest development lenders to the Philippines, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has leveraged its state-run media and cultivated local intermediaries to promote a positive narrative of the benefits of doing business with Beijing. This report, Investing in Narratives, was conducted by AidData in collaboration with Asia Society Philippines. It investigates how—and to what effect—the PRC has shaped the Philippine media narrative around its infrastructure investments. We analyze Beijing's direct and indirect messaging efforts, including state-run media, content-sharing partnerships, and journalist training. Through these channels, Beijing seeks to position itself as a reliable economic partner, while downplaying challenges associated with its projects. However, local media often diverge from the PRC's narratives, highlighting governance issues and project setbacks. Using a combination of media analysis, interviews, and social media analytics, we explore the complexities and limitations of Beijing's narrative control in the Philippine media landscape.