Living in a world of increasingly complex global dynamics, it is often hard to discern fact from fiction. Yet perhaps no comparison between fact and fiction seems quite as surreally fearsome as the scenario in which a foreign power seeks to establish a grand propaganda network within a rival nation. Still, this is actually what is taking place today, as China's presence in the United States becomes more apparent through a highly sophisticated propaganda operation geared at weakening the freedoms and institutions enjoyed by Americans.
China's Strategic Ambitions
Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in 1979, Beijing has pursued an elaborate strategy to extend its influence far beyond its borders. It's not only about forging diplomatic relationships but a netting of influence that would eventually influence public opinion and political debate within the United States. Beijing's ultimate goal remains clear: "China wins, America loses."
The Proliferation of Pro-CCP Front Organizations
The origins of China's influence campaign go back at least to the late 20th century. In 1998, the Cox Commission estimated that there were about 8,000 pro-CCP front organizations worldwide. These take many shapes: Confucius Institutes, Chinese-language media, and ostensibly independent cultural and educational organizations. Contrary to their innocuous image as cultural ambassadors, they form part of a well-thought-out plan to present a rosy image about China while undermining the American values and institutions at the same time.
Take, for example, the Confucius Institutes, a cornerstone in this network of educational and cultural promotion. Funded by the Chinese government, set up at universities worldwide, their brief is to teach Chinese and promote culture. However, critics argue that another function of the institutes has been as a tool of ideological influence at the service of a pro-CCP narrative and even at the expense of academic freedom on issues critical of China source.
**Media Outlets' Part
Beyond these academic circles, China has invested heavily in media organs as a part of a campaign to influence perceptions in the United States. Chinese state media, such as CGTN and Xinhua News Agency, continue to expand into the United States with English-language broadcasts and online content. The Chinese state-run media operations were designed as part of a greater mission to portray China as positive, while Western countries are in disarray.
These media often present China as a world leader in many aspects, while events linked to human rights violations and to the practice of an authoritarian government are less shown or not at all. This is a well-thought-through tactic, indeed, subtly influencing the way people think about the news and, eventually, reality as a whole.
**Social Media: A New Battlefield
The arrival of digital platforms has brought new dimensions to propaganda from China. Of these, perhaps the most powerful is TikTok, a Chinese social media company owned by ByteDance. It is the entertainment and viral content provider to hundreds of millions worldwide. But its algorithmic biases and content moderation policies can also be marshaled in shaping perceptions and spreading misinformation.
With more than a billion users, TikTok has come under scrutiny over concerns that its data practices and content moderation could be swayed by the Chinese government. It is better positioned to curate what people see and control the narrative in public discourse than others, especially among the younger generation more vulnerable to digital influence.
**The Threat to American Freedoms
What is different and unique with the Chinese operations of propaganda is that it is covert in nature. The operations are, per se, designed to be insidious, as opposed to overt forms of influence, such as traditional espionage or diplomatic pressure. These move through ostensibly harmless channels: cultural exchanges, educational programs, and entertainment. This makes them hard to recognize, much less counteract.
The danger isn't dramatic, as much as it is the consequence of gradual erosion, chipping away at American values and institutions. Thus far, China's propaganda network has aimed at undermining public trust in democratic processes and institutions as one subtle way of weakening the U.S. from within. This erosion of confidence can lead to increased polarization and a reduced ability to address critical issues effectively.
Countering the Influence
The answer lies in an approach many layered to this now near-belligerent foreign influence threat. Firstly, operations of pro-CCP front groups must be made more transparent. Knowing sources of funding, affiliations, and activities can assist in the identification of their effects and a counter. In fact, the U.S. government already has sought to limit operations of Confucius Institutes on college campuses .
There should also be tight control with regard to foreign involvement in media and social platforms. All applications, including TikTok, have to be strictly scrutinized with the aim of ensuring that they are not being used in manipulating the public mind or selling misinformation. Tech companies can collaborate with government agencies and independent watchdogs in reducing liabilities that relate to digital influence.
Another crucial thing is making the public more cognizant and critical. Education and media literacy programs could develop in the people the ability to recognize and critically assess all partiality and biased information. The more cautious and critical a person is when receiving information, the less that information can actually affect him or her. This is how people can be protected from foreign propaganda influences.
Conclusion
Whereas the idea might be hard to believe, a foreign power using a nation's freedoms to subvert it from within is very seriously the real threat of China's propaganda network. Therefore, the need for recognition and tackling this problem is at stake in the name of American values and institutions, whereas transparency, regulation, and better public education are the ways to get closer to protection against such a subtle yet pervasive threat stemming from foreign propaganda.
Further reading on the topic can be found in the following sources:
- NYT Article on Confucius Institutes
- BBC Report on Chinese Media Influence
- NBC News on TikTok Data Privacy
- Washington Post on Confucius Institutes
The more one learns, the better prepared one shall be to navigate this no-man's-land of influence and prevent our democratic institutions from losing their sanctity.