China steps up 'propaganda blitz' in Turkey amid fallout from collapse of BYD electric vehicle plant plan

China steps up 'propaganda blitz' in Turkey amid fallout from collapse of BYD electric vehicle plant plan Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 14:57 Beijing courts Turkish journalists and opposition parties as it seeks to repair image following wasted investment Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with China’s President Xi Jinping (R) while visiting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, 31 August 2025 (AFP) Off The Chinese government has substantially stepped up its public relations activities in Turkey following the damage to its image caused by the collapse of manufacturer BYD’s planned investment in the country. The Chinese electric vehicle company in June said they had paused work on a plant in Turkey while prioritising production in Europe. BYD’s apparent change of course was a major embarrassment for the Turkish government.