Chinese media is accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda across Europe, inciting hatred towards Ukrainian refugees and disseminating anti-NATO messages.
- Pro-Kremlin Messages Broadcast After Russian Media Channels Shut Down
Chinese media are launching pro-Russian propaganda across Europe, stirring up hatred and mistrust of Ukrainian refugees and spreading anti-NATO messages, a senior European official has warned.
A Chinese state radio station, a news agency run by the country’s Communist Party, as well as their embassies, are broadcasting pro-Kremlin messages about the Ukraine war after European governments shut down Russian media channels.
Ivana Karaskova, a special adviser to the European Commission, which monitors Chinese propaganda in Central and Eastern Europe, accused Beijing of fomenting hatred of Ukrainian refugees among far-right and far-left groups in the region.
China Radio International (CRI), a CCP mouthpiece that broadcasts in 44 countries including Britain, has repeatedly broadcast news describing NATO as ‘Voldemort’, the evil character from the Harry Potter books.
It has been warned that the Chinese media are launching pro-Russian propaganda across Europe. file image
Ms Karaskova’s investigations, published in EU-funded briefing papers, said the channel portrayed the US and NATO as destabilizing forces in the region, despite NATO working to combat Russian aggression.
The China expert made her comments when Richard Moore, the head of MI6, made an unusual speech in the Czech capital Prague last week, urging Russian spies to defect to the West.
Ms. Karaskova said that in nine Central and Eastern European countries, Chinese media such as CRI and Xinhua have spread anti-Western propaganda blaming the US and NATO for the war in Ukraine. A key target is Poland, where there are more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees.
In Slovakia, the Chinese embassy posted messages online asking why there was a “double standard” when it comes to the West treating Ukrainian refugees well, compared to those from the Middle East or South America.
Ms Karaskova said the Chinese messages led far-right groups to campaign against Ukrainian refugees as a drain on taxpayers.
Last night, he said: ‘China sided with Russia on the narratives about the cause of the war in Ukraine immediately after Russia’s invasion. I find this worrying. European governments should pay more attention to Chinese state media operating in the European media space.”
