CMG's wartime documentary on British journalist premieres during exchange event in British city

The documentary produced by the China Media Group on a British journalist, who witnessed the war crimes committed by Japanese invaders in China and sacrificed his life to protect Chinese students during the war, premiered at the "Echoes of Peace" Cultural Exchange Event in the British city of Liverpool on Tuesday.

The event was hosted by CMG to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and was one in a series of similar activities which have been held at various locations worldwide to draw attention to this important historical milestones.

At Liverpool's Bluecoat Gallery, diplomats, historians, and the relatives of veterans gathered to reflect on history and look towards peace, vowing not to forget the stories of the past.

The premiere of the documentary "Witness to War: George Hogg in China" on British journalist George Hogg's experience in China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression became one of the highlights of the event.

The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was fought from 1931 to 1945. It was the first to break out and the longest-running campaign in the World Anti-Fascist War. The war resulted in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties. Hogg was one of the witness to the Chinese people's sufferings during the wartime.

The young British Oxford graduate went to China in 1938. There he witnessed a country being destroyed by Japanese invaders, and the people who were suffering from the war crimes and yet struggling to rebuild. Many men might have fled, but he stayed and fought alongside with the Chinese people, while courageously writing articles to expose the atrocities of the Japanese invaders to the Western countries.

Hogg's final destination was Shuangshipu Township in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, where he worked as the headmaster of the Bailie School and sacrificed his young life to evacuate students to a safe place.

Without much archive video of Hogg, it is mainly through his writing that readers today can imagine his life and work in China, so applying AI-generated content helped to fill in the gaps.

Based on Hogg's writings, alongside a biography authored by his nephew Mark Thomas, the AI technology recreated scenes of Hogg's tour, work and life among the Chinese people back in the 1930s and 1940s, providing an immersive experience for the audience, especially the younger generation.

After the premiere of the documentary, the CMG received gifts from Hogg's nephew Thomas.

During the event, guests also engaged in exchanges and discussions on topics including defending the post-war international order, practicing multilateralism, and the important historical position of the battlefield in China as the main Eastern battlefield of the global fight against fascism during World War II.

The Chinese and British people forged a great friendship through mutual support and sacrifices of blood and lives during World War II, attendees said. They called for persistent efforts in safeguarding the peace in the world as new challenges emerge and persist.

CMG's wartime documentary on British journalist premieres during exchange event in British city

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media