In a bid to counter Beijing’s influence in the South Pacific country of the Solomon Islands, veteran U.S. diplomat Kurt Campbell encountered the extent to which China would go to disseminate its message. During a trip in 2022, Campbell was startled to find a local article alleging that the U.S. was operating chemical and biological labs in Ukraine, a claim refuted by Washington. This false narrative was initiated by Russia and widely disseminated by China’s vast overseas propaganda machinery, highlighting the efficacy of Russian and Chinese disinformation, as per Campbell’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July.
Fast forward two years later, and the same claim continues to circulate online, underscoring China’s substantial efforts to sway global opinions. With a budget reaching billions annually, China’s disinformation campaign is increasingly sophisticated, leveraging artificial intelligence to refine its strategies. Intelligence analysts and policymakers in Washington are now on high alert, promising to counter any activities that could sway the impending November election or undermine American interests.
Central to China’s tactics are networks of websites masquerading as legitimate news outlets. These websites deliver pro-China content that often mirrors official statements from Beijing. Shannon Van Sant, an adviser to the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, uncovered a network of numerous sites posing as news organizations. One site even mimicked The New York Times in design to lend an air of legitimacy while imparting strongly pro-Chinese messages.
The manipulation of media by China not only distorts facts but also undermines democracy and societal integrity. Despite allegations against China using news websites and social media for dissemination, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu vehemently denies such claims. Besides state media, Beijing has enlisted foreign entities to propagate messages favoring the Communist Party, ushering in a wave of consistently pro-Beijing narratives.
Cybersecurity firm Logically identified 1,200 websites carrying content from Russian or Chinese state media, with some sites tailoring content to specific audiences, some of which were linked to the U.S. election. While Russia and Iran have displayed evident preferences in the U.S. presidential campaign, Beijing focuses more on uplifting China’s image through positive content dissemination.
Despite more countries viewing the U.S. positively per the Gallup World Poll, the prevalence of negative views toward both the U.S. and China in various regions is higher than 15 years ago, indicating the ongoing struggle for influence between the two superpowers. To counter China’s expanding global influence efforts, the House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing substantial funding aimed at combating disinformation campaigns, awaiting Senate approval to be enacted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a systematic boost to Chinese narratives commensurate with the country’s international standing, leading to substantial investments in state media and international communication centers. Beijing’s media partnerships globally contribute to its efforts to shape narratives worldwide, exemplified by the dissemination of articles like the one Campbell encountered in the Solomon Islands.
Amid the global chase for supremacy in crucial sectors like electric vehicles, AI, and quantum computing, Beijing’s media outreach appears intertwined with its pursuit of economic dominance. Through fabricated personas and narratives, China continues to push its agenda, as seen in instances like the made-up Swiss virologist, Wilson Edwards, highlighting the lengths China will go to propagate its messages.
In conclusion, the battle for influence between the U.S. and China remains fierce, with disinformation campaigns playing a pivotal role in shaping global perceptions. As both nations ramp up efforts to sway opinions worldwide, the need for vigilance against deceptive narratives and fake news becomes increasingly crucial in safeguarding democracy and international relations.
