Well, since when does China really give a KRAP about the Western press??? LOL
China does not have much to worry about??? but the Western Press is not on the list of existential threats to the PRC?
On the contrary, the PRC leadership has always cared much about western press, both their positive and negative coverage. It's just that in recent years, the negative coverage by the major western media (NYT, WSJ, Bloomberg, FT, etc.) are so stacked against China it has become hopeless. The relationship has largely become hostile and antagonistic. And it's not just between PRC government and the western media; the PRC elites and educated class largely hold the same view towards the western media, at least when it comes to China reporting.
In a larger sense, this trend is almost understandable. Whereas in the '70 and '80, the west had had a rather romantic view of China, if just from an angle of viewing China as an ally against the "evil empire' and of China abandoning the Soviet model. The '90 and the early '00, even after the short-term setback due to the Tiananmen Incident, the west (mainly the US) still had hope of "converting" China, at a minimum, benefiting from the booming China economy. The 2008 financial crisis was a turning point - since then, China has been viewed by the west (particularly the US) as a competitor if not outright adversary. China is perceived now to pose an all-around threat in political, social and economic development model. As members of SDF can testify and witness, China's rapid military developments in recent years are also viewed with anxiety and concern (particular in the US). The media naturally reflects this trend and undercurrent of the respective society. This is the context of the current western press coverage of China, IMO.
This is no absolute "free" and independent media in the world. If, domestically, different media outlets and voices represent different interests and parties on domestically issues and therefore can reach some balance, there is not always such balance when it comes to international reporting. This is made worse when the majority of the audience have either no direct experience or time to explore the topic at hand.
Therefore, we should carefully seek out different opinions and weigh voices when it comes to international reporting. This is at least what I've learned over the years.