China’s Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent comments accusing China of manipulating global information. The remarks were made during the Third Summit for Democracy, hosted virtually by South Korea from March 18 to 20.
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the issue at a press conference on Wednesday, stating that the summit’s theme of promoting “democracy against authoritarianism” is itself a misleading narrative. “The accusation that China is spreading false information is false information in itself,” Lin asserted.
Lin emphasized that misinformation is a global concern and suggested that the United States has been a significant contributor to its spread. He pointed out that while China’s economy is showing signs of stabilization and improvement, narratives like the “collapse theory” and the “peak theory” are being circulated. Additionally, he highlighted that despite the Belt and Road Initiative’s benefits to countries worldwide, it has been labeled a “debt trap” by some in the U.S.
“When individuals from other countries share their genuine experiences about China, it is dismissed as ‘China manipulating public opinion,'” Lin said. He also addressed criticisms regarding policies in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where U.S. allegations of “forced labor” and “genocide” have been made. Lin described these claims as unfounded.
The spokesperson noted that U.S. officials have previously acknowledged efforts to influence narratives about China through various means. “This demonstrates that disseminating misinformation has become a strategic tool in the U.S.’s approach towards China,” Lin stated.
“Ultimately, lies and conspiracies will only backfire,” he concluded. “The more the U.S. resorts to fabricating rumors and causing confusion, the more its credibility is questioned by the international community.”
Reference(s):
China slams U.S.' Blinken for accusing it of 'distorting information'
cgtn.com
