China�s media offensive in Africa is an expression of the need to create advantageous conditions for its own trade relations and for strategic alliances, for example in international organizations. At the same time, China�s global charm offensive or »charm defensive« is also a reaction to what China often feels is unfair reporting in western media about China and China in Africa. The aforementioned objectives of Chinese foreign media are accompanied and supported by strategic Chinese corporate investment in information technology and telecommunications infrastructure in African countries.