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Source: The post is based on the article “Blessed By Beijing – China’s propaganda war is well funded and waged subtly. Centre and states must coordinate” published in The Times of India on 8th August 2023.
Syllabus: GS 2 – International Relations
Relevance: concerns with Chinese growing influence.
News: An NY Times investigation has exposed a complex network of Chinese influence operations worldwide, raising security concerns for India.
What are the findings of the investigation?
The investigation reveals that American millionaire Neville Roy Singham is allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda efforts.
Singham’s non-profits have funded various entities, including think tanks, political parties, and media abroad, which promote CCP messaging. In India, Singham’s network is believed to have supported a news website.
The goal is to shape a positive image of China by establishing networks for generating news, providing false information, and providing funding for seemingly harmless public initiatives.
For instance, Taiwan has recently begun identifying Chinese-sponsored beautification initiatives in its regions.
While these funds are channeled through a contest organized by China’s Fujian province, the underlying objective is to exert cultural influence on the Taiwanese population.
Therefore, given China’s massive resources, similar influence operations might be attempted against India.
What measures can be adopted by India?
India has an administrative structure where different components often lack effective communication. Moreover, a notable portion of the population remains underemployed or receives low wages. These factors create openings for Beijing to exploit India’s weaknesses.
Hence, the Indian government needs to be more watchful of China’s secret plans, work closely with state governments, and use this as a reason to boost the economy.
