Home » The CCP’s propaganda on the Russian-Ukrainian war creates a different picture for the people | The Epoch Times

The CCP’s propaganda on the Russian-Ukrainian war creates a different picture for the people | The Epoch Times

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The CCP’s propaganda on the Russian-Ukrainian war creates a different picture for the people | The Epoch Times

[Epoch Times, March 5, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Zhang Ting comprehensive report) While Western countries are working to combat Russia’s false propaganda about the Russian-Ukrainian war, the CCP uses official media to amplify Russia’s propaganda and censor those who oppose the Russian-Ukraine war. war and pro-Ukraine rhetoric, so that the Chinese people see a war that is completely different from what Westerners see.

CCP state media releases fake news about Russia-Ukraine war

Hours after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece tabloid Global Times released a video saying a large number of Ukrainian soldiers had laid down their weapons. Its source is the Russian state-controlled media RT TV.

The Western media have shown the will of the Ukrainian army to resist the Russian army stubbornly in the past few days: some Ukrainian soldiers did not hesitate to blow up bridges just to prevent the advance of Russian chariots; some warriors returned from abroad and participated in the war to protect their homes. In recent days, both British intelligence assessments and NATO military officials have said that the will of the Ukrainians to resist has slowed the progress of the Russian army.

On February 26, Chinese Central Television (CCTV) released news from Russia that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had fled the capital Kyiv. CCTV created a related hashtag on Weibo, which was viewed 510 million times and used by 163 media outlets across the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video of him in central Kyiv on February 26 and said: “There is a lot of false information online that I am calling on the army to lay down their arms and prepare to leave.” “Here I am. We do not Arms will be laid down. We will defend our country.”

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Regarding the war, the Chinese state media reported very little about the international condemnation of Russia, about Ukraine’s success in Zelensky’s public opinion war, or about anti-war protests in Russia.

The New York Times said the fog of disinformation grew thicker when Chinese state media described Russia’s war as an anti-fascist effort. After Russia’s defense minister announced this week that Russia would host the first international anti-fascist conference in August, China’s state broadcaster CCTV posted a piece of content, followed by the creation of the Weibo hashtag. Within 24 hours, it had 650 million views and was used by 90 media outlets. Many commentators have called Ukraine and the United States “fascist states.”

In addition, Chinese media are also helping to promote Russian disinformation that Russian troops are only targeting military targets. But Western officials have condemned Russia’s strikes against Ukrainian civilian areas, a claim echoed by live photos taken by foreign media.

All in all, Chinese netizens are seeing a very different war than what netizens in much of the world see. This practice is keeping the Chinese public away from the truth while sowing the seeds of confusion.

Social media censors anti-war and pro-Ukrainian rhetoric

The Times said that when Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia’s media machine worked well in China, and coupled with Beijing’s censorship of pro-Ukrainian content, they spun a web of disinformation that blinded most Chinese online users. The message they were trying to convey was that Russian military action was anti-Western, anti-NATO expansion, and anti-Nazi – and therefore legitimate and welcome.

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On Chinese social media platforms, many have adopted rhetoric from Putin and the Russian media, calling the Ukrainian side extremists and neo-Nazis.

While videos circulating outside China showed Ukrainians treating Russian prisoners of war well, a trending topic on Chinese social media was that captured Russians were subjected to Nazi-like torture. Both CCTV and the party media People’s Daily have created such labels. Together they have over 200 million views.

Chinese social media also censors content pro-Ukraine and anti-Russian war. Chinese actor and TV host Ke Lan, who has 2.9 million followers, has been officially banned after retweeting videos and photos of Russian mass rallies openly anti-war.

A letter signed by five Chinese professors from several prestigious universities briefly appeared on Chinese social media, but was later deleted. The letter criticized Russia for attacking weak neighbors.

“We oppose unjust wars,” said an academic at Beijing’s Tsinghua University and other schools.

Comments published by The Nationalists criticized the professors for failing to uphold the official position of the ruling party.

The AP said the ruling Communist Party has used school textbooks and government-controlled media for decades to foster nationalist discontent. Chinese state media reiterated Beijing’s stance that the U.S. and its European allies are responsible for the war in Ukraine. Driven by nationalism, online comments called on China to support Russia by buying oil, gas and other goods.

But as the war continued, some Chinese netizens began to scrutinize reports on the Russian-Ukrainian war. Even nationalist writer Wang Xiaodong said, “Chinese people should have access to comprehensive and diverse information,” The New York Times said.

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The Associated Press said what the CCP has allowed online, and what it has asked the media to publish, is a clear indication of how the party wants the public to view the war.

Not all Chinese support Russia, why the outside world only hears one voice

Browsing foreign social media can hear overwhelming anti-war voices, while public opinion online in China looks almost overwhelmingly supportive of Putin. The New York Times said that of course, the Chinese have more than one voice on this matter, otherwise there would not be so many people in the circle of friends who block each other for this. Some anti-war voices once went viral on Chinese social media in a brief moment, and some became WeChat “populars” with 100,000+ views in one day. But before they could be heard by the world, they were quickly censored and disappeared into the “404” mass grave of online speech.

After some Chinese netizens’ remarks about the war sparked public outrage in Ukraine, mainstream Chinese media began to call on people not to do so, and online censorship has also been adjusted according to the situation. But videos and articles about the war are still circulating on the Internet.

Responsible editor: Li Yuan#

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