China Weaponizing the Press
News media is becoming increasingly intertwined with geopolitics, with citizens and entire nations now affected by how countries leverage the press in the information age. In particular, China is quickly rising to the position of major power in the 21st century—as its economic and technological prowess grows, so does its ability to shape or even destroy public opinion in order to advance state interests. This article will discuss how, in recent years, China has been weaponizing the press to create an international information war in order to preserve its interests on the world stage.
History of Politics and News Media
The relationship between governments and media has been a long one. In ancient societies such as Greece and Rome, political factions used propaganda and public displays to further their interests. Even still, in the age of digital media, regimes around the world have been using press outlets to promote their agendas and control public opinion for centuries.
Modern press manipulation, however, was largely jump-started by the former Soviet Union, which used propaganda to control information in the 20th century. Its successor, the Russian Federation, has continued this approach and has carried it over into the 21st century.
In more recent years, however, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken this practice to a whole new level, using data-driven technology and an increasingly sophisticated censorship apparatus to drive the coverage of news media around the world.
Chinese Use of Censorship
The CCP has been utilizing censorship as a way to control its own population since it came to power in 1949. Using its various propaganda arms, the Chinese government censors any news it sees as threatening to its ability to hold on to power. It also has a long record of censoring political views and opinions that oppose the current regime.
In recent years, however, Chinese censorship has spread beyond its own borders, often censorship spanning foreign news outlets, with Chinese diplomats attempting to influence reporting even in non-Chinese media organizations.
China has also sought to block news websites and social media of countries they don’t wish to interact with, as well as using intimidation tactics to suppress unfavorable news of China’s rise on the global stage. It has even used its major tech firms, such as Tencent and Weibo, to facilitate its Information Warfare activities.
China’s Aim With the Digital Information War
The aim of China’s digital information warfare is clear: to control public opinion in order to advance its own geopolitical and economic interests. It wishes to increase its influence on the global stage and to promote a positive image of itself, while minimizing unfavorable reporting.
In order to accomplish these goals, China has gone on the offensive, launching an aggressive campaign to purchase or co-opt foreign companies, while also setting up “astroturf” campaigns in order to promote Chinese interests abroad. The aim is to control the narrative and shape public opinion so that countries do not speak out against Chinese policies.
China has also sought to disrupt Western news outlets and social media. It has sought to create fake news and spread false or misleading information in order to discredit enemies or make its own interests appear more favorable.
Impact of this Digital Information War
This digital information warfare has had an enormous impact on international politics. With more countries now tied in to global networks, news media has become an increasingly powerful tool in shaping public opinion.
In particular, China has been able to use its immense power and resources to influence the way in which news is reported around the world. This has allowed China to control news coverage, shape the narrative, and suppress unfavorable news of its own activities.
As a result, countries are unable to effectively respond to developments in the region or to speak out against the actions of the CCP without facing the threat of censorship or the possible shutdown of their media outlets.
China’s digital information warfare has had a major impact on the way in which news media is reported around the world. The CCP has gone to great lengths to control information and to shape public opinion. It has used various tactics such as censoring news, purchasing foreign companies, and launching astroturf campaigns in order to promote its own interests.
This has had enormous implications for geopolitics, as countries have become increasingly reliant on Chinese media and have come to rely on the CCP to control public opinion and advance its own interests on the world stage.
