February 18, 2026 – China Headlines

Story gist: Performers from Inner Mongolia appeared on CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala stage. Related cultural activities benefiting the public featured on CCTV News Broadcast before Chinese New Year.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Zhonghuawang frame the story with emotional tone, highlighting Inner Mongolia’s ‘sincere performances’ touching ‘national audiences’ on the Gala. Center outlets like Sina neutrally report cultural public-benefit activities appearing on News Broadcast. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any critical or alternative perspectives on the event.

Story gist: The Xianning City Meteorological Observatory in Hubei Province issued a yellow warning signal for dense fog.

Bias summary: No left-leaning outlets covered the story, leaving that perspective absent. Center sources like Central Meteorological Observatory reported it neutrally as a standard warning issuance. Right-leaning Zhonghua Wang framed it with urgency, emphasizing ‘sudden dense fog’ causing over 20 highway toll station closures and temporary traffic controls, focusing on disruptions.

Story gist: Chinese astronaut Wu Fei from Baotou sent a New Year’s gift to his hometown from the space station. Shenzhou 21 crew members sang songs and baked a cake during the Chinese Space Station’s first KTV session.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets (e.g., 中华网) frame the event with patriotic emphasis on singing festive melodies and sending blessings from space. Center-leaning (e.g., 凤凰网科技) stress novelty as space station ‘KTV debut’ with singing and cake-baking details. Right-leaning coverage absent, omitting potential skepticism on state propaganda or resource use in space program.

Story gist: Chinese media published articles on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s New Year messages. Coverage highlights his concern for citizens’ family warmth and discussions on traditional customs during the Spring Festival.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Xinhua frames the story with emotional, patriotic tones emphasizing ‘family-country feelings’ and ‘lights of thousands of homes’ to evoke national unity. Right-leaning Sina uses casual, direct language focusing on Xi ‘chatting year customs with people’ and quotes. No center-leaning outlets provided, omitting neutral or balanced perspectives on the event.