The Chinese government's massive influence campaign through social media has become a hot topic of international research. Recently, the Australian Strategic and Policy Research Center (ASPI) and the "Safeguard Defenders" organization (Safeguard Defenders) published a special report on China's online influence operations, warning that China's influence and disinformation activities are becoming more sophisticated and their influence is increasing.
The agencies say China's actions are aimed at major democracies and are focused on disrupting their domestic, foreign, security and defense policies. More importantly, policymakers and the public in countries affected by the Chinese government's influence and disinformation campaigns have not yet been sufficiently aware of this, and it is imperative to raise awareness. The Australian Center for Strategic and Policy Studies published a special report on this topic called "Gaming public opinion".
"Although the Chinese Communist Party's influence activities are developing rapidly in democratic countries, which are the main targets of influence operations, political leaders, policy makers, companies and the public in these countries have no idea about this. "In democracies, because the Internet is indispensable and very open, it's easier for them to be affected."
Albert Zhang, one of the authors of the Australian Center for Strategy and Policy Research's report, "Games on Public Opinion," tells us that the reason the Chinese government is increasing its influence online is to protect its regime, and to achieve political and strategic goals. In his emailed response to us, he said:
"In recent years, the ability of the Internet to spread values and ideas such as human rights and democracy has been seen as a direct threat to the existence of the Communist Party. So Chinese President Xi Jinping declared social media as a 'main battleground' and launched a wide-ranging campaign of influence. The Chinese Communist Party is increasing its online and offline discussion power to ensure the existence of the Communist Party at home and to create a favorable external environment. It seeks to achieve its political, economic and strategic goals by setting the international agenda.
A map of China's overseas police stations published on social media by Safeguard Defenders.
On May 23, the "Defenders" organization published a special report on China's harassment and disseminating fake information. The report shows that China's harassment and disinformation campaigns increase each time an agency publishes important reports about China. For example, after the organization revealed in its September 2022 report that China had set up so-called "police stations" in several major cities in the United States, including New York, and was operating illegally on American soil, China's state-sponsored disinformation attacks and disinformation efforts only intensified. .
Guardians believes they may be trying to drown out the original message by flooding Twitter with fake, irrelevant and spammy content. They said that as of November 17, 2022, 127 fake accounts were found on Twitter under the name of the organization, and the creation of fake accounts has continued to this day. The same attack also occurred after the organization recently released a report on Chinese forced repatriation operations abroad.
William Nee, research and campaign coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, says the Chinese government's increasing influence online should be monitored and countered:
"The Chinese Communist Party is stepping up efforts to target critics. As can be seen from the above report, China's actions are intentional. All of these moves by China's state media and the Internet are aimed at destroying the original message about China. While I don't think China's actions have been very successful, it's still disturbing. Especially the critics from China. Therefore, I believe that both social media and relevant agencies should take measures against this, and China should realize that the nature of its online behavior has changed.
At one point, the Chinese government released propaganda videos on YouTube and other websites denying its genocide and forced labor policies against Uyghurs. In these videos, the Chinese government created so-called Uyghur Internet stars, who through their mouths denied that Uyghurs were subjected to forced labor and criticized the United States for banning the so-called "Xinjiang cotton".
Researcher Albert Zhang told us that although China's propaganda failed to convince the public in Western countries, it has had a certain impact on countries outside of it, namely in Africa, Latin America and Asia, which is called the "Global South".
He says: "The Chinese Communist Party's campaign to deny Uyghur forced labor has been effective in some areas. This is especially true in many Muslim-majority countries. Also, many countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the southern part of the world do not know or do not want to talk about the forced labor issue of Uighurs. "While the Chinese Communist Party has not been very successful in persuading the public in the West with this propaganda, it has succeeded in silencing individuals and businesses."
A report by the Australian Center for Strategic Policy Studies noted that the disinformation and influence activities of the Chinese government have now become negligible, stating that "If this issue remains unresolved, the Chinese Communist Party will increasingly intensify its online influence activities to influence policymakers' economic policies." It can have a successful effect, disrupt social cohesion in times of crisis, mistrust leaders or democratic institutions and processes, undermine alliances and cooperation, and prevent journalists, researchers, and activists from disseminating accurate information about China.
Researcher Albert Zhang told us that in order to prevent the above-mentioned consequences, "governments of democratic countries and foreign social media platforms must quickly change from active reaction mode to active strategy mode, and the governments of allied countries and affiliated organizations should respond to this emerging security challenge. "It is necessary to formulate joint measures."
The Taliban also fought a war with Iran over the water issue on social media : Afghanistan
Experts monitoring the politics of the region believe that the Taliban is trying to increase the number of its supporters by using media and social networks and claiming to defend Afghanistan's territorial integrity and water resources.
There have been reports of casualties on both sides in the clashes between the Afghan Taliban and Iranian forces over water issues in the Afghan province of Nimroz, which borders Iran, at the end of last week. has used the incident to 'boost' his popularity.
The Afghan Taliban, experienced in guerrilla warfare, immediately released videos and photos of the incident on social media .
According to Independent Farsi's Wajid Rouhani, experts believe that the Taliban have used the conflict to boost their popularity and inflame the nationalist sentiments of the Afghan people against Iran. After the end of the border conflict with the forces of Iran, the Taliban also offered prayers in Nimroz province.
This is the third time in a row since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan that its forces have clashed with Iranian border guards.
According to Wajid Rouhani, the Taliban are trying to increase the number of their supporters by claiming to defend Afghanistan's territorial integrity and water resources and using media and social networks.
Apart from the ground tension between Afghanistan and Iran, incidents of verbal tension between the citizens of the two countries also keep coming up on the social networking websites Tik Tok and Twitter.
Tik Tok user Abdullah Kandzai posted a video of the border conflict between the Taliban and Iranian guards, praying for the victory of the Taliban. A large number of other TikTok and Twitter users have welcomed the Taliban's approach against Iran.
Farhad Mohammadi, a resident of Herat province, told Independent Persian that the Taliban is currently the only force that can defend Afghanistan against foreign invasion.
He added: 'I am still against the Taliban because of the ban on girls' work and education, but the Taliban have shown that they are committed to defending our country and if it is about defending the homeland, I am with the Taliban. support.'
A video is also viral on Twitter, in which a popular Taliban figure General Mubeen is seen challenging Iran with a bucket full of water.
The general perception of the Taliban is that they are not afraid to start a war. During his more than 21 months of rule, he has repeatedly displayed his suicidal force, boasting of self-propelled bombs and landmines, claiming that he has defeated the US and NATO.
After the overthrow of the Afghan government, American weapons worth billions of dollars are also in the possession of the Taliban.
Taliban supporters also posted a video on Twitter attributed to a clash in Nimroz province on Saturday, in which Taliban members can be seen advancing towards Nimroz with military vehicles and US weapons.
According to some analysts, border disputes with Iran could lead to a reunification of the internally divided Taliban. For them, such disputes also help to divert attention from internal issues like economic and human rights.
Difficult for Afghan refugees living in Iran
On the other hand, Iran hosts more than 4 million Afghan refugees and border tensions could have negative effects on their resettlement. Many Afghan immigrants are troubled by this tension.
Ahmad Khalid, an Afghan citizen who migrated to Iran six months ago in search of work, told Independent Farsi that he was unemployed for several months after the Taliban came to power and that is why he had to go to Iran.
He adds: 'If, God forbid, there is a war between the Taliban and Iran, this issue will have a negative impact on the lives of us immigrants. We all ran away from them and went to Iran. I hope war is avoided. Only the Afghan people will lose in such a war.'
Many Afghan analysts believe that the Taliban have nothing to lose and are therefore involved in border disputes.
1973 Water Treaty
There is a general perception in Afghanistan that Iran has benefited more than its share of Helmand River water over the past five decades, and this issue has led to recent tensions.
On the other hand, in a meeting of the Taliban's political commission, the 1973 water agreement with Iran was respected and said that they want good relations with their neighbors.
Mohammad Hasan Haqqyar, spokesman for the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister's Office, said that all legal aspects of the agreement will be reviewed so that everyone gets their rights.
Najibullah Sadid, a water resources expert, says: 'I think the biggest problem is that Iran is relying too much on Helmand. During the last 50 years Afghanistan has not been able to manage its own water, Iran has invested in this water, even though it does not own it. He has carried its water even beyond the city of Zahidan.'
Earlier, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Wahidi at a public forum rejected Taliban officials' statements about water shortages in the Helmand River, saying current reports contradicted the claims and suggested a field visit by officials. gone and if there is no water then this problem will be solved.
"Will be shot in the chest, tell me where to come?": Bajrang Punia on ex-IPS's "goli maareen" post
Wrestler's protest: All the wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are protesting at Jantar Mantar from 23rd April. Dr. NC Asthana, a former IPS officer, had tweeted about the wrestlers. Now Bajrang Punia has given the answer.
After the uproar on Sunday, the police had taken several wrestlers into custody.
New Delhi : The tussle between the wrestlers protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and the Delhi Police is increasing. On Monday, the police uprooted the tents set up for the demonstration of the wrestlers. The police have said that they will not be allowed to protest anywhere now. on sunday when the wrestlers were taken into custody on Sunday, Bajrang Punia had said, "Shoot us." On this statement of his, a former IPS officer Dr. NC Asthana had said that if needed, he will shoot. Now Bajrang Punia has replied to the former IPS officer. Punia said, "We are ready. Tell me where to come to eat bullets."
What did the former IPS officer tweet?
Former IPS officer Dr. NC Asthana wrote on Twitter, "If necessary, we will shoot. But, not because of your words. Right now they have just been dragged and thrown away like a garbage bag. Police have the right to shoot in Section 129." . That wish will also be fulfilled in proper circumstances. But to know that it is necessary to be educated. See you again at the postmortem table!"
Bajrang Punia gave this answer
Retweeting the tweet of former IPS officer, Bajrang Punia wrote, "This IPS officer is talking about shooting us. Brothers are standing in front, tell me where to come to be shot, I swear we will not show our backs." , Will eat your bullet on the chest. This is what is left, now it is right to do with us.
Who is Asthana?
Asthana is the same officer who wrote an article against Pulia Daman in the year 2021. NC Asthana has worked as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala. Prior to that, he has also held the post of ADG in BSF and CRPF.
There was a ruckus at Jantar Mantar on Sunday
Let us tell you that on Sunday there was a lot of ruckus between Delhi Police and wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. Many wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, who have won medals in the Olympics, were shouting slogans against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the wrestling federation, near the new parliament. The wrestlers were trying to cross the barricades near Parliament, but were stopped by the Delhi Police.
Police detained the wrestlers
According to the report, during this there was a scuffle between the police and the wrestlers. After this, the police took Vinesh-Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Poonia and all the wrestlers and their supporters into custody and evacuated Jantar Mantar. Police has imposed section 144 at Jantar Mantar and said that now wrestlers will not be allowed to return there again.
Wrestlers are protesting since April 23
Tell that all the wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are protesting at Jantar Mantar from 23 April. Earlier on January 18, wrestlers had made allegations of sexual exploitation against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, after the intervention of the Sports Ministry, the wrestlers called off their strike.
Wrestlers have now raised questions on the committee,
then the Sports Ministry had formed a committee to investigate the allegations leveled by the wrestlers. Now after three months, the wrestlers are staging a sit-in again. The wrestlers have now raised questions on the committee itself. Also demanded the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Tags:
asia