Propaganda guru for China

CHINA’S increasingly imageconscious government has appointed a trusted member of the ruling Communist Party to head up its international propaganda operation.

Former top internet regulator Xu Lin will be in charge of efforts to portray China as a progressive force for good in the world at a time when it’s facing criticism over its allegedly unfair trading practices, human rights abuses and militarisation of island claims in the South China Sea.

Mr Xu, 55, had earlier been brought in to enforce China’s strict regulations on the internet after his predecessor was ousted in a corruption scandal.