Thursday, August 11, 2016

China Begins A New Propaganda War Against The West



Financial Times: Across much of the world, fear-mongering and xenophobia are creeping into public and political discourse.

In liberal democracies with traditions of free speech, vociferous denunciations of these attitudes can act as a counterweight. But in authoritarian countries where alternative narratives are forbidden, official attempts to demonise foreigners and “others” can be especially dangerous. In the past week, the Chinese government has launched several viral online videos that blame “western hostile forces” for a host of ills and supposed conspiracies within China.

The videos are crude but exceptionally powerful in their simplicity and emotional appeal. One video promoted by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and Communist Youth League, two of the most powerful state bodies, begins with heartbreaking scenes of orphans and victims of the wars in Iraq and Syria, and then jumps to an assertion that the west, led by the US, is trying to subject China to the same fate.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The above video is one of these Chinese propaganda online videos. As to what is my take .... I have noticed this shift in the past 2 - 3 years .... and it raises my eyebrows. Is this a smart policy .... no .... especially since much of China's new wealth is dependent on trade deals and open markets with the West for its economy. But this policy of vilifying the West is intensifying .... and I do not see (or understand) what is their endgame and what are they ultimately trying to get from pursuing this policy. But if I was to hazard a guess .... I suspect that there are internal Chinese politics at play .... specifically President Xi laying the groundwork to cement his control of the government, and to portray his opponents as "friends of the West".

Update: Noah Feldman's analysis has some merit .... One Path to Power in China Is Closed (Bloomberg).

1 comment:

Unknown said...

"China Begins A New Propaganda War Against The West"

The DNC and RINOs propaganda war against Trump is in full swing.

Priorities, priorities.


I experienced this jingoism, patriotism and xenophobia at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. I was trying to enjoy a play of "The Red Cliffs". Some pud was awfully jumpy and kept looking back to the round eye. Probably was some pasty yellow, white collar office worker, who was an armchair patriot and beyond stupid.

You can catch the movie on Netflix. It is not as good as the play. The movie is more Hollywood and less historical. Still the movie is good as an introduction. Then you must read.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9045195,116.3951868,16z

My inlaws are so much cooler than that putz at the theatre.