Translation-communication studies (TCS) is an active interdisciplinary attempt to broaden the scope of the translation discipline, to better serve national cultural diplomacy, and to boost the trend of media development. This article demonstrates the historical existence and practical necessity of TCS from the perspectives of its conceptual origin, practical utility, and research themes. The purpose and connotation of TCS is to establish identities and mediate intersubject relationships; the function of it is to respond to media innovation and serve the cause of “translating China," and the research themes of it can be addressed mainly from the aspects of the subject, process, and effect. TCS has significant practical influence on both translation theory construction and state-initiated outward translation practice.