The 21st century is not a world of conventional wars where countries will fight with arms and ammunition. It is a world where the war of narratives is taking place and whoever builds it the most rapidly and effectively has the power to control the world. In a related battle of narratives, it is now being reported that a US government-backed media outlet is preparing to launch a Chinese-language (Mandarin) news service in Australia, hinting that the USA and Australia are both willing to take the fight to the Xi Jinping red authoritarian regime by playing his dirty game of propaganda.
According to South China Morning Post, ‘Decode China’ will operate a Chinese-language website under an arrangement with the US Department of State and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), according to disclosures on the Australian government’s public register of foreign influence. IWPR is a non-profit organisation based in the UK.
Although Decode China’s official mission and idea has not been revealed, the rumor mills have suggested that the launch of the website could potentially shake the growing Chinese influence in the country.
Australia has an estimated 600,000 Mandarin speaking populace and the coverage by media outlets in the Chinese-language market is dominated by voices friendly towards CCP and Xi Jinping’s governance style.
A 2016 study by the Australia-China Relations Institute found Chinese-language media’s coverage of China over the past two decades had changed from being “mostly critical” to “representations that are sympathetic or even supportive” of the CCP.
Australia is suffering from the menace of increasing Chinese influence
Australia has been chosen because the influence of the Chinese had reached hazardous levels in the down under country. The Coronavirus pandemic brought the Australian government to the harsh realities of how tightly the kangaroos were clutched by the dragon.
TFI has extensively covered how China hoarded billions of worth of medical equipment from Australia before the Coronavirus reached the pandemic levels, all under the nose of its government.
From looting the country’s medical supplies to starting a full-blown trade war with it, China has done everything in the book to hurt the Aussies.
Recently a report by report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) stated that secret Chinese operatives operating under the umbrella of the United Front are on a mission to infiltrate and influence almost every aspect of Australian life, from politics and business to the media.
The report stated that “The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) attempts to interfere in diaspora communities, influence political systems and covertly access valuable and sensitive technology will only grow as tensions between China and countries around the world develop.”
In the past, Jinping has described ‘United Front’ as his secret “magic weapon”.
The influence of China can be gauged from the fact that many of Australia’s political leaders have started singing the tune of Xi Jinping government.
One such leader, Shaoquett Moselmane, a Labor MP from Australia’s New South Wales was under the scanner by the Australian government, recently. The Australian intelligence officers and police raided his home and office for having alleged ties to the Communist Party of China (CCP).
Moselmane has been particularly in awe of the Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has publicly praised Xi Jinping’s “unswerving” leadership during the coronavirus pandemic, contrasting it favorably with Australia’s own response.
“For the Peoples Republic of China, President Xi stepped up and provided that leadership. He mustered the resources of the nation and together with the great people of China – fought it and contained it,” Moselmane had written for one of his personal websites.
Australia growing wary of China
Canberra is increasingly becoming wary of Beijing and on Thursday even suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after China passed the controversial National Security Bill which is aimed at culling the freedom and autonomy of Hongkongers.
The Scott Morrison government also announced a pathway to permanent residency for Hongkongers, muck alike the UK. The move was aimed at irking China and it apparently worked too as Beijing called the move as interfering in its ‘internal affairs’.
The media outlet which is undertaking this activity is backed by the US government and it is imperative to understand that Donald Trump administration has waged a war against China’s propaganda machinery masquerading as Journalistic institutions.
Donald Trump is tightening the screws of Chinese Media and its propaganda outlets as he had designated CGTN, Xinhua, China Radio, China Daily, Han Tian Development USA, China Central Television, China News Service, People’s Daily and the Global Times as foreign diplomatic missions.
‘Decode China’ can go a long way in countering Chinese hegemony over its Mandarin speakers as true information, unadulterated by Chinese propaganda will reach the populace which has been led astray into falsehood by vile Xi Jinping and his army of propagandists.