CGTN-Fox Debate on Thursday: Experts: Chinese and US media need communication, understanding

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Chinese and US TV anchors will go head to head on Thursday morning, Beijing Time. CGTN's Liu Xin will debate Fox Business host Trish Regan on the China-US trade war. Some observers see it as an opportunity for dialogue between the two countries' media. Wu Guoxiu has this from Beijing.

An upcoming debate, a topic for class. At one of China's most prestigious universities for the media, Professor Cao Peixin wants his students to analyse the debate's cause and impact.

PROF. CAO PEIXIN SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, CHINA UNIV. OF COMMUNICATION "There are a lot of misunderstandings between the media, between the two countries, between Chinese people and foreign media, between American people and Chinese media. I think this would be a good chance to clarify a lot of misunderstandings because both sides would have time to talk about themselves, their stands."

Back to the beginning of the story. Fox Business host Trish Regan on her program accused China of 'stealing' American intellectual property to the tune of 600 billion dollars a year. Liu Xin criticized the commentary as being based on 'emotion and accusation' rather than substance.

Regan made a fierce response on TV and then challenged Liu Xin to a debate. After several rounds of back and forth on social media, the debate was set for 8 p.m. US Eastern Time on Wednesday on Regan's program. That'll be at eight a.m. in Beijing when Liu Xin will be speaking from CGTN studios in Beijing. American commentator Einar Tangen noted the differences between China and US media.

EINAR TANGEN CURRENT AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR "There is really antagonism between the media, it's based on perceived national interests. What you have is some group like Fox News, which is more to the right wing, you have CNN to the left wing, but most, not only US but international news is very hostile towards China. There is a lot of accusations."

News of the debate has gone viral on social and conventional media, in and out of China and the US. But at a time of an escalating trade war, Chinese Professor Cao thinks the debate itself is a way to communicate.

PROF. CAO PEIXIN SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, CHINA UNIV. OF COMMUNICATION "Among the intensity in the Middle of the trade war, media are deeply involved, so we could expect something like this happen sooner or later. A debate is a dialogue, a dialogue is better than a war."

WU GUOXIU BEIJING "As many netizens are eyeing Thursday's debate, some insiders say this shows that Chinese and American media need to increase communication and better understand each other. They add that since Chinese and American peoples' knowledge about each other is mostly obtained from media, it's necessary to think about what information should be provided to viewers."