History of China News Service in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 17, 2026

China News Service (CNS) is the second largest state news agency in China, after Xinhua. It was previously overseen by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which was incorporated into the United Front Work Department of the CCP in 2018. CNS primarily targets overseas Chinese communities and residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

1952: China News Service Established

In 1952, China News Service (CNS) was established as a successor to the CCP's International News Agency.

1979: Reconstruction of Business Departments

In 1979, China News Service's (CNS) business departments underwent reconstruction. Additionally, a team of film professionals was transferred to expand the film team, leading to the establishment of the "Nanhai Film Company".

1981: Inaugural Feature Film Produced

In 1981, China News Service (CNS) produced its inaugural feature film, The Wilderness, under the banner of "Nanhai Film Company."

1985: Film and Video Department Expansion

In 1985, the Film Department of the China News Agency was expanded to become the Film and Video Department. Since then, it has produced feature films and film documentaries.

1989: Tiananmen Square Protests

In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre led to negative perceptions of the Chinese government, which China News Service (CNS) later aimed to counter by establishing media outlets in the U.S.

1990: CNS Personnel Dispatched to the U.S.

In 1990, China News Service (CNS) personnel were dispatched to the U.S. to found SinoVision and The China Press to counter negative perceptions of the Chinese government following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

2001: Global Chinese Language Media Forum Held

Since 2001, China News Service (CNS) has held a biannual Global Chinese Language Media Forum in China, also known as World Chinese Language Media Forum, which is a large global summit of Chinese media leaders.

April 2007: "China News Video" Released

In April 2007, China News Service (CNS) officially released a television news release called "China News Video".

October 2007: Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Sina Corporation

In October 2007, China News Service (CNS) and Sina Corporation signed a strategic cooperation agreement, and "China News Video" debuted on Sina.

2007: China News Service Overseas Center Established

In 2007, China News Service (CNS) established the China News Service Overseas Center, which provides news reports, editorials, and layout for overseas Chinese media outlets.

2009: Global Chinese Media Cooperative Union Established

In 2009, China News Service (CNS) established the Global Chinese Media Cooperative Union (GCMCU), which redistributes CNS and other Chinese state media content to other Chinese-language media outlets.

July 2010: Video News Department Established

In July 2010, China News Service (CNS) adjusted the business of its Film and Television Department and set up a new Video News Department, positioning video news as the "third channel news".

2012: Coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics

Since its establishment in 2010, the Video News Department of China News Service has been involved in the coverage of major events such as the 2012 Summer Olympics.

2014: Editorial Deriding Gary Locke Published

In 2014, China News Service (CNS) published an editorial which derided outgoing American ambassador to China Gary Locke, which was widely criticized for racial slurs and mockery of his Chinese heritage.

February 2015: Liu Beixian steps down as Editor-in-Chief of CNS

In February 2015, Liu Beixian stepped down as the editor-in-chief and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of China News Service (CNS).

2017: Liu Beixian Charged with Bribery

In 2017, Liu Beixian, a former editor-in-chief and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of CNS, was charged with taking bribes during the anti-corruption campaign and expelled from the CCP.

2018: CNS integrated in the United Front Work Department

In 2018, China News Service (CNS) became part of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) when its host organization, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, was folded into the UFWD.

2018: Overseas Chinese Affairs Office Merged

In 2018, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which formerly administered China News Service, was merged into the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

2019: Campaign to Increase Influence on Overseas Social Media

In 2019, China News Service (CNS) began a campaign to increase its influence on overseas social media. CNS was also involved in targeted disinformation and propaganda campaigns during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.

June 2020: Designated as a Foreign Mission

In June 2020, the United States Department of State designated China News Service, along with other Chinese state media outlets, as a foreign mission.

2020: ProPublica Investigation on Fake Twitter Accounts

According to a 2020 investigation by ProPublica, China News Service (CNS) hired a third-party firm to create fake Twitter accounts to spread conspiracy theories and disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: Influence operations in Latin America

In 2023, cybersecurity researchers found that China News Service (CNS) had established sock puppet accounts on Twitter for influence operations in Latin America.