How Chinese Propaganda Shapes Perceptions and Fuels Racism Against Indians

Media is one of the most influential forces shaping public opinion and international perceptions of various cultures and people alike. Through their platforms, news organizations and social media platforms offer information dissemination and educational content that connects people across international boundaries.

The profound consequences emerge when governments exploit media to distribute fake information along with selectively chosen data and blatant falsehoods as propaganda tools. Through emotional manipulation and bias exploitation propaganda generates fear and hatred to influence millions of people which results in dire real life consequences for many innocent people. Many countries have reported a rise in racially profiled crimes against Indians.

Through this article I’d like to shed some light on the organizations who are behind the spread of false narratives, information and rumours about the Indian people, government and the armed forces.

State-Controlled Media: Fake News, Bias, and Ownership

Global Times released allegations that Pakistani Air Force shot down 7 Indian Rafale aircrafts while backing up their story with unrelated images; like the 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab. Global times did not wait for any official confirmation, they saw a few rumours circulating on the Pakistani twitter community and decided to take their word for it. The Indian embassy in Beijing was quick to publicly criticise the state-run outlet for spreading disinformation.

This wasn’t the first time that Global times or Xinhua were caught lying and spreading misinformation on purpose, the 2020 Galwan incident also highlights a flood of misinformation from these outlets. Chinese media and paid social media profiles circulated images and videos claiming to show the actual Galwan conflict, which turned out be completely fake. These misleading visuals were picked up and spread by Chinese and Pakistani accounts, then further amplified in English spaces to reach a global audience

A simple reverse image search showed that it's actually from Nigeria. It depicts the aftermath of an incident in 2015, when Nigerian soldiers were killed by Boko Haram militants. (Source BBC)

Chinese state media emphasize events or data that show India in a negative light yet they completely overlook any positive aspects or contextual details.

Following the Pahalgam attack and Indian military action Chinese media launched a coordinated campaign that portrayed India as the aggressor and Pakistan as the victim while spreading conspiracy theories of Indian "false flag" operations to undermine India's reputation internationally.

Articles from CGTN, Global Times, and China Military feature a negative portrayal of India which aims to damage India's international image while improving Pakistan's diplomatic status.

These media organizations are not independent in the slightest. The Chinese Communist Party owns Xinhua and Global Times which serve as direct instruments of Chinese state that receive financial support through government contracts and advertising dollars.

The Singapore government’s investment entity Temasek Holdings owns Mediacorp which in turn controls CNA.

The editorial policy and funding of these media outlets are strictly managed to guarantee they promote national interests instead of unbiased reporting.

Because Global Times is state-owned by the Chinese Communist Party its misinformation gains substantial credibility.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) directs Global Times since its establishment through People’s Daily Press enabling it to function as the state's official voice to promote state-approved views and nationalist messages.

These agencies deliberately ignore topics such as Uyghur persecution and Chinese free speech suppression which demonstrates their selective outrage and agenda-driven reporting patterns.

The agencies’ eagerness to promote negative stories about India combined with their disregard for domestic human rights violations highlights their function as state propaganda tools.

Image source : Getty

The Human Cost: Racism, Stereotypes, and Violence

Propaganda ultimately harms innocent people who become its victims. Media representations that depict Indians as unhygienic or violent based on uncommon fabricated stories have led to escalated hate crimes and discrimination across the globe.

Leelamma Lal, a 67-year-old Indian-American nurse from Florida suffered brutal assault at the hands of an attacker who yelled racist insults against Indians. The assailant shouted racial slurs before he attacked the Indian doctor which resulted in severe injuries due to racist media stereotypes.

Source : India Today

Such incidents are not isolated. Biased reporting and propaganda produce daily negative impacts for ordinary Indians through hate crimes in the US and UK and discrimination in public and workplace environments. Media outlets that disseminate false stories validate discriminatory beliefs and endanger human lives.

Media clearly shapes how the public perceives events and issues. State-controlled media outlets such as Xinhua and Global times create harm through their fake news and anti-India propaganda by distorting facts and endangering lives while eroding trust and promoting racism. Responsible media organizations along with governments and citizens must identify and combat these harmful stories. The protection of innocent people’s dignity and safety everywhere requires us to demand accountability and truth.