Skip to content

Reports

China’s New Cognitive War against Taiwan

Epoch Times reported that Beijing has adopted new cognitive warfare tactics against Taiwan. In the past it used to directly or indirectly buy Taiwan’s major media including newspaper, television, and radios to spread its message. Now, however, it has switched to using Internet media, such as TikTok, YouTube, and influential webcast hosts.

One tactic is to release fake news via its controlled Taiwanese media, causing other Taiwanese media who want to keep up on news reporting but do not verify the validity of news to follow up on the fake topic. China has established a “Public Opinion Control Center” inside its military and has a 2 million strong “Internet army” (people who monitor the Internet posting and post propaganda or fake news on the Internet). This can stir up issues or debates in Taiwan media that can lead to conflicts and divisions among the Taiwanese people.

Beijing also provides scripts to people who have their own (news or other topic) channels on the Internet. Those people will replace those words commonly used in the mainland but which are uncommon in Taiwan with those commonly used in Taiwan, to make it appear to have been “created in Taiwan.”

For webcasts, China’s “Public Opinion Control Center” can arrange a mass Chinese “Internet Army” (say 100,000 people) to listen to a Taiwanese webcaster and each to pay the webcaster a small amount of money to influence the webasterc. Collectively however, the webcaster receives a large amount of money and it is hard to trace the money source.

Source: Epoch Times, June 7, 2023
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/6/7/n14011845.htm

The CCP Uses Celebrities to Promote Its Messages

Epoch Times reported that two professors at the University of Richmond, Dan Chen and Gengsong Gao, published an article to expose the CCP’s tactic in sending its official messages via celebrities, including some Taiwanese entertainment stars.

Their study found that 85 percent of the top 218 celebrities in China re-posted the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) official messages on their social media account at least once over a six-month period in the second half of 2021.

On August 2, the day when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan, the CCP’s mouthpiece CCTV sent out a post on Weibo, a Chinese-owned Twitter-like social media platform, with the message “There is only one China in the World” statement. Within hours, Chinese celebrities re-posted this message on their extensive networks of followers, including Xie Na (谢娜), a 41-year-old popular TV host and actress who posted it for her 128 million followers on Weibo, and Jackson Yee (易烊千玺), a 22-year-old singer, dancer and actor ranked the No.1 celebrity in Forbes’ 2021 Chinese Celebrity List.  He posted it for Taiwan celebrities conducting business in mainland China, such as Chen Qiaoen (陈乔恩) and Wu Qilong (吴奇隆), and also re-tweeted this message, about a day later.

One celebrity news outlet listed more than 20 Taiwan celebrities who reposted the “Only one China in the World and he praised them for “fulfilling their responsibility to voice political support.” It also listed 11 Taiwan celebrities who did not retweet the message and suggested that fans will judge them accordingly.

Fans and media in China harassed and criticized those Taiwan celebrities who did not express that they lined up with the CCP’s position, including a well-known Taiwan singer Hebe Tien (田馥甄) who has 13 million followers on Weibo.

In addition to using the fans to “teach” the celebrities, the CCP can also directly punish the celebrities. In 2014, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a notice to require all broadcasting platforms to block “tainted artists” – celebrities who engage in illegal behavior or actions that are illegal, indecent, or politically incorrect.

This practice forced many celebrities to endorse the official lines to make themselves safe. Also, the state-endorsed celebrities have better opportunities to perform on state televisions or in state-sponsored films and TV shows.

Source: Epoch Times, October 1, 2022
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/10/1/n13836744.htm

China’s Anti-Tank Missiles Will Set NATO Tanks on Fire

In the Russia-Ukraine war, many anti-tank missiles provided by the West have caused heavy losses to the Russian armored forces. However, Russia’s “Free Press” website reported on July 21 that China has developed the most advanced anti-tank weapons. They will set NATO tanks on fire.

The Russian media said Chinese weapons manufacturers are pushing the United States and other NATO members out of the international arms market with similar weapons. “Soon, China will conquer the world market for anti-tank weapons. Many countries, including Iran, Algeria, Nigeria  and others … are already buying Chinese anti-tank missiles.

The report refers to the latest model of China’s famous, “Red Arrow” series of anti-tank missiles. The “Red Arrow 12,” which in Chinese is Hongjian-12 (HJ-12) is a third generation, man-portable, fire-and-forget infrared homing anti-tank missile and was developed by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).

According to the report, China’s ‘HJ-12’ has proven to be more effective than both the U.S. ‘Javelin’ and the Israeli ‘Long Nail’ anti-tank missiles.” Compared to its NATO counterpart, the Chinese HJ-12 has a much longer effective range. It can hit moving targets such as tanks from 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away during the day and up to 2 kilometers at night.

In addition, the “HJ-12” can be launched in a closed space. It is first propelled by a takeoff engine, with a small initial speed out of the tube, and with less tail jet gas. After a certain distance, the main engine starts to speed up and climbs. This “cold launch” technology means that it can even be launched from an ordinary apartment, making it easier to conduct urban warfare. In contrast, the U.S. Javelin anti-tank missile has many limitations when used in urban alley warfare. The tail flame is likely to burn the firer.

In addition, the report also mentions that the “HJ-12” has a powerful strike capability. The operator can choose between different combat modes: direct attack or top-attack mode, where the missile will hit the target from above at an almost vertical angle.

Meanwhile, China has been improving its anti-tank technology. China’s Poly Defense Corporation unveiled its next-generation GAM-10X anti-tank missile at the recent Defense Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. This missile is capable of penetrating reactive armor up to one meter thick and can also be used as a man-portable weapon. It can also be fired from an enclosed space. The missile uses uncooled components that significantly reduce the missile’s launch preparation time. “That means that it can lock onto a tank’s infrared signature and fire as soon as it appears.” In addition, another major advantage is its modular design. This makes it easy to be integrated and mounted on a variety of platforms such as light all-terrain vehicles or tracked infantry fighting vehicles. It can also be mounted on a heavy tripod and used as a static defense or assault weapon.”

Source: China.com, July 22, 2022.
https://military.china.com/news/13004177/20220722/42889756.html

The CCP’s Confucius Institutes that Infiltrate U.S. College Operations Just Rebranded

During a June 21 press conference, the National Association of Scholars (NAS) announced that the Chinese government-backed Confucius Institute (CI) program that infiltrates U.S. colleges has been rebranded as a purported Chinese language learning center in order to circumvent U.S. policy. The previous CI’s parent organizaton, Hanban under the Chinese Ministry of Education, was also rebranded as the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation (CLEC).

In the past four years, 104 of the 118 Confucius Institutes at American universities have closed. Yet many of the colleges’ CIs have shifted to become Chinese language learning centers in universities. In reality, however, nothing has changed except the name.

Rachelle Peterson, senior research fellow at NAS, told reporters during a press conference, “We looked at all 118 Confucius Institutes that have ever existed in the United States. At least 28 that closed as CIs were replaced with something similar, usually operated in partnership with CLEC.”

Peterson told reporters that, under the guidance of the CLEC, at least 58 schools maintained a relationship with their Chinese sister universities and at least five schools recruited a new host location for their CI program in order to maintain the relationship.

As an example, the report cites Northern State University in South Dakota, which signed an agreement with the CLEC after closing the CI in 2019. Peterson said The center sends Chinese language teachers and pays their salaries and travel expenses, while Northern State University provides classrooms, teacher housing and health insurance, exactly the same arrangement as for the CI program. “Nothing has changed except the name.”

The CCP has said that Confucius Institutes were established to promote Chinese language and culture. The official website of Hanban published a report on Nov 28, 2012, when Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, visited the CI headquarters. Li said that the Confucius Institute is a brand that, “has an affinity in itself” and is a “pure culture.” In an earlier official Xinhua report, Li also indicated that the CI is “an important part of the CCP’s grand foreign propaganda pattern.”

CIs have a lot of requirements for their host Western universities. For example, they require the host university to sign a confidentiality agreement not to disclose the amount of funding, and to follow the Chinese version of the supplied textbook. The CI  basically conducts self-censorship. Increasingly, critics see it as an overseas political propaganda machine for the CCP, and a tool to monitor and interfere with overseas campus speech and activities. For example, in 2009 North Carolina State University canceled a plan to invite the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to speak at the university because the CI protested this action.

The 2020 U.S, Department of State designation of CI as a “foreign mission” was bolstered by the passage of the Confucius Act in March 2021. The act stipulated that schools which maintain CI programs were ineligible to receive most Department of Education funds.

U.S. Republican Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) said in a recent report released on the CIs that although most of the CIs in American universities have been closed, the CCP’s United Front Work Department continues to promote influence on U.S. college campuses, and he called on Congress and the Administration to take the China threat seriously.

“The mission of the CCP’s United Front Work Department is to influence foreigners and foreign institutions, especially those in the United States, whose work is visible on college campuses across the United States. CIs and Chinese universities establish partnerships with U.S. universities to receive research funding from (Chinese) government agencies. Rep. Banks said that most of the partnerships are not random, and China’s United Front Work Department has specifically targeted university institutions with strong STEM programs, and in recent years, there have been many espionage operations.”

China has always insisted that CIs and similar cultural exchange programs should not be politicized. The CCP’s media Global Times said in an editorial that CIs and similar institutions are a “platform for a comprehensive and objective understanding of China, and China firmly opposes the politicization of academic and cultural exchange activities.”

Sources:
1. Creaders.net, June 23, 2022.
https://news.creaders.net/china/2022/06/23/2497297.html
2. Daily Caller, June 22, 2022.
https://dailycaller.com/2022/06/22/confucius-institute-national-association-of-scholars-rachelle-peterson-ian-oxnevad-jim-banks/

 

 

Beijing Highly Praised Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Election and Condemned the EU & G7

The election of the sixth-term chief executive of Hong Kong was held on May 8. The only candidate who ran for this office, Lee Ka-chiu (John Lee, 李家超) was elected with a vote of 99.16 percent of the 1,428 attending Election Committee members. China highly praised the election. The Council of the European Union and the G7 expressed their regret and their concerns. 

The CCP’s high praise of the election 

The official agents of China such as the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Global Times, a media affiliated with the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and others so affiliated all praised the election highly.

This shows that “patriots governing Hong Kong, ” who are deeply bolstered by all sectors of Hong Kong society, and the democratic development of Hong Kong have turned a new page after the improvement of the electoral system, which is the embodiment of quality democracy with Hong Kong characteristics

The success of the sixth-term chief executive election has further implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong.” It fully demonstrated the advantages of the new electoral system and proved the new system is a good one that follows the “one country, two systems” principle and suits Hong Kong’s reality.

In addition, Lee Ka-chiu was congratulated. Lee has served Hong Kong for more than 40 years. He is very familiar with Hong Kong. In fighting the violent demonstrations against the extradition bill (in 2019). He played a key supporting role in restoring order and rebuilding confidence. His election represents the vivid practice of “patriots governing Hong Kong.”  

Hong Kong has entered the era of “patriots ruling Hong Kong.”

Comments from the EU and the G7

The Council of the European Union issued a declaration on May 8 after the Hong Kong chief executive’s election. The declaration indicated that the number of voters for the Election Committee was substantially reduced by the electoral overhaul, weakening the already limited democratic elements in the governance of Hong Kong and running counter to the commitments to greater representation enshrined in the Basic Law.  

The EU regrets this violation of democratic principles and political pluralism and sees this selection process as yet another step in the dismantling of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. 

The EU calls on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to abide by their national and international commitments, notably the ultimate aim of electing the Chief Executive and members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage. 

On May 9, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement to underscore their “grave concern over the selection process for the Chief Executive in Hong Kong as part of a continued assault on political pluralism and fundamental freedoms.” 

The statement said, “Last year, the PRC and Hong Kong authorities moved away from the ultimate aim of universal suffrage as set out in Hong Kong’s Basic Law by increasing the number of non-elected members appointed to the Election Committee and dramatically curtailing the number of voters eligible to participate in the Committee elections.”

The current nomination process and resulting appointment are a stark departure from the aim of universal suffrage and further erode the ability of Hong Kongers to be represented legitimately. We are deeply concerned about this steady erosion of political and civil rights and Hong Kong’s autonomy.  

The CCP’s condemnation of the EU and theG7 

The CCP’s media, Xinhua and Global Times had some words on the Chinese Mission to the EU and the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, at a routine press conference on Monday, that the EU couldn’t wait and “jumped out” by pointing fingers at and smearing the process, which fully exposes its true intention of interfering in China’s internal affairs.    

Zhao noted that those politicians applauded fake democracy and the pan-democratic camp that allowed the rioting and violence to rage, but they are afraid of true democracy with the implementation of the principle of “only patriots administering Hong Kong,” “Such tactics of interference won’t work in today’s Hong Kong.”   

On May 10, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong  firmly rejected and strongly condemned the comments by the G7 and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. 

That office indicated that their statement smeared Hong Kong’s sixth-term chief executive election and attacked the Chinese central government’s policies towards Hong Kong. The words used were irresponsible remarks that only exposed their hypocrisy and their true intention of interfering in China’s internal affairs and trying to destroy Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity. The election is a successful practice of “only patriots administering Hong Kong,” and this can’t be defamed or smeared by any external forces. 

The rejection continued, saying that the ministers and the EU high representative have turned a blind eye to the structural flaws of their own democratic systems. They have wantonly attacked Hong Kong’s chief executive election and the Chinese government’s implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy, calling their statement, a serious violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations. 

The statement is full of arrogance and prejudice, ignoring the fact that the chief executive election was conducted in accordance with the law and that the result of the fair election is in line with the Hong Kong people’s aspirations.  

Behind the many problems that have emerged in Hong Kong in recent years, there is invariably the shadow of some US and Western hostile forces. The more chaotic Hong Kong becomes, the better it is in their interests.  They will continue to attempt to create problems in Hong Kong.  

“Patriots governing Hong Kong” will certainly make the U.S. and Western hostile forces as well as their proxy in Hong Kong desperate. Only when they are desperate, is there hope for Hong Kong. 

Sources:
1. Council of the EU, “Hong Kong: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the Chief Executive election held on 8 May,” 8 May 2022.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/05/08/hong-kong-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-chief-executive-election-held-on-8-may/.
2. Global Times, “Hong Kong CE-elect discusses tasks for transition, successful election plunges West into hysteria, fury,” May 9, 2022.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202205/1265177.shtml.
3. Global Times, “Huaqiu Commentary: G7 Played Another Farce,” May 9, 2022.
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/47wUl1GPIj4.
4. Global Times, “Commentary: Unity at Hong Kong Made Some Westerners Desparate,” May 9, 2022.
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/47vhQaooqNe.
5. Xinhua, “Liaison office of central gov’t slams G7 foreign ministers’ statement on HKSAR chief executive election,” May 10, 2022.
https://english.news.cn/20220510/1746b86eb7b74d09bdcd4c359637cc03/c.html.
6. U.S. Department of State, “G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Hong Kong Chief Executive Selection,” MAY 9, 2022.
https://www.state.gov/g7-foreign-ministers-statement-on-the-hong-kong-chief-executive-selection/.