COVID boosts the Sino-US image war, and Beijing plays a good role

China’s newest media star is the 14 mirrored wild elephants, which wandered 500 kilometers away from their homes to the outskirts of the southwestern city of Kunming. Images of elephants cuddling and sleeping are whizzing around the world, accompanied by a story that outlines officials desperately trying to guide the elephants home. Thanks to the elephant, a true and caring image of China is emerging, Brag Global Times newspaper. This is no coincidence.The cute elephant is the latest weapon of President Xi Jinping’s propaganda offensive Present a cuter global image of China.

The elephant is just a manifestation of Beijing’s ten-year obsession with improving its so-called voice. President Xi firmly believes that Beijing needs to upgrade its global image to adapt to its status as the world’s second largest economy. to this end, It is steadily redrawing the global media landscape Through the overseas expansion of state-owned media, pro-Chinese businessmen acquire shares in foreign news media and build global communication infrastructure, such as Its satellite TV network is all over Africa.

Speaking of the global image war, the fierce narrative battle between China and the United States due to the origin of the new crown virus is just a skirmish in a broader movement. However, the impact of the pandemic has intensified conflict, reshaped the battlefield, and allowed Beijing to take advantage of Washington’s distractions during a period of domestic turmoil associated with Trump.

In the past year, Beijing’s Wolf Warrior diplomats have actively used social media to spread false information, especially The conspiracy theory that the spread of the coronavirus originated in the U.S.. China also uses paid trolls and ordinary citizens in influence sports, Such as denying the abuse of Uyghur minorities. It starts from the original goal Tell a good Chinese story Make a promotion for a specific area, sometimes Designed to increase distrust of liberal democracy.

This represents a more confident strategy, using the content sharing agreement network it has established, which provides free Chinese propaganda to overseas news media. Beijing also spends millions of dollars on advertising in foreign newspapers.During the week of the Chinese Legislative Conference in March, Beijing’s pure propaganda capabilities were revealed. This People’s Daily Bragging that it has placed a total of 4,500 articles Or the media declined because it used 12 languages ​​to describe them in 200 news outlets.

Before the outbreak of the new crown virus, Beijing also provided free intermediary services for foreign journalists and wowed them with five-star treatment, thereby buying sympathy reports in foreign newspapers. Dozens of high-profile Australian journalists took part in such trips; many wrote suffocating, eye-opening hymns that echoed the party’s line of China’s rapid economic development. Regardless of whether it was intentional or unintentional, they ended up telling the story of China very well.

Although the first known COVID-19 outbreak originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, China has managed to use the pandemic to enhance its global reputation, which shows that Beijing is surprisingly sophisticated in propaganda. In research for the International Federation of Journalists, Our survey of press unions in 50 countries It was found that nearly 60% of respondents believe that since the COVID outbreak, their country’s coverage of China has become more positive. Over 90% of the people surveyed have received medical assistance from China, while 42% have received China’s COVID vaccine. In vaccine-receiving countries, the main narrative about China’s response to the pandemic is twice as likely to be positive.

At the same time, the chaotic response of the United States and Europe to the epidemic has also fallen into the hands of China, as this has led developing countries to openly plead with Beijing for help with masks, personal protective equipment, and medical assistance.The delivery of these items provides an opportunity for dramatic and public expression of gratitude, such as Thank you Brother Xi on the huge billboard! On the streets of the Serbian capital.In Tunisia A Chinese-funded US$70 million hospital opened This has led many Tunisians to regard Beijing as their savior. In this way, China’s aid donations serve a dual purpose. It provides Beijing with a propaganda victory to promote its image as a responsible member of the international community.