From Tibet to Taiwan
The Chinese government recently set up an “international broadcasting center” in Tibet, with the stated goal of “promoting good stories about Tibet.” This is part of a long-term push by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to disseminate a certain image of CCP-controlled Tibet in the international community. It attempts to dilute international attention toward Tibetans and issues of human rights under the CCP. These and other propaganda mechanisms show that the CCP is able to export an official narrative about Tibetans to the outside world that suppresses any differing and dissenting views.
Recently, the CCP said it would initiate propaganda to “speak well about the unification narrative” regarding Taiwan. On one hand, China would ramp up military threats and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan. On the other hand, it would push its narrative of “peaceful unification” internally and externally through propaganda mechanisms in an attempt to mislead the international community. The goal behind this narrative is to threaten and substantially erode Taiwan’s sovereignty.
From Tibet to Taiwan and beyond, the CCP utilizes the same methods to make incursions abroad, revealing the CCP’s expanding ambitions. These actions are by no means isolated affairs, but part of the CCP’s goal of world hegemony. Regardless of whether these actions are aimed at the internal suppression of minorities or pushing the false narrative of “peaceful unification,” the CCP’s goal is the same: To expand China’s influence and attempt to alter the world order of peace and stability.
Countries need to be vigilant in resisting these false narratives and remaining resolute in their sovereignty and national interests. The CCP’s propaganda and foreign policy strategies aim to chip away at these lines of defense for nations everywhere, by drawing everyone in as pawns in the CCP’s games. The international community must bolster cooperation to avoid being turned into powerless game pieces. It must jointly resist CCP infiltration and incursion, and safeguard freedom and democracy.
To reiterate, the CCP’s methods in Tibet and against Taiwan are one and the same. The propaganda is being implemented under the guise of “speaking positively about China and the CCP.” The party is expanding its ambitions by propaganda and diplomatic pressure. Its Tibet narrative attempts to dilute international attention toward its human rights violations, while in Taiwan the party is trying to slice away at Taiwan’s sovereignty by misleading and controlling the international conversation through a false narrative of “peaceful unification.”
The CCP is constantly implementing invasive means to expand its global influence. The international community must remain vigilant about China’s plans, strengthen mutual exchange and cooperation against the CCP, and safeguard national sovereignty and the values of democracy and freedom. This is the only way to prevent China from dominating everyone and wrecking the world order.
Chang Ya-jou
Taipei
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