The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has urged news outlets across the country to exercise editorial precision and observe historical context when reporting on Taiwan.
​At a media engagement on Thursday, October 8, 2026, held at the Chinese Embassy Complex in Abuja, officials called on journalists to distinguish between covering non-official engagements involving Taiwan and employing descriptions that suggest the island is an independent, sovereign country separate from China.
​Addressing senior editors, executives, and diplomatic correspondents, Mr. Xu Zhou, Minister-Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, emphasized that the One-China principle remains the cornerstone of Beijing’s bilateral relations with Abuja.
​”We urge our partners in the Nigerian press to report cross-strait and international affairs with accuracy, balance, and context,” Mr. Xu said during the session. “Framing Taiwan in language that implies statehood or sovereign independence undermines long-standing diplomatic consensus and risks misinforming the public.”
​During the interactive session, embassy officials outlined key reporting guidelines aimed at avoiding linguistic ambiguity in news coverage.
The high commission guided the media to avoid referring to Taiwanese administrative authorities using formal titles such as “president,” “ministry,” or “government” that denote sovereign authority.
He also requested refrain from listing Taiwan alongside sovereign nations in international data tables, graphics, or statistical breakdowns. Describe commercial and cultural activities involving Taiwan strictly as non-official interactions conducted in line with international norms and federal policy.
​Addressing concerns raised by media professionals regarding the balance between diplomatic sensitivities and journalistic independence, Mr. Xu stated that Chinese authorities view Nigerian press organizations as essential partners in fostering mutual understanding.
​To support balanced coverage, the embassy offered to strengthen professional exchange programs, journalism training workshops, and media exchange visits to China for Nigerian reporters.
​Participants at the session concluded that continued engagement and responsible journalism are critical to sustaining informed public discourse and deepening strategic bilateral ties between Nigeria and China.
