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Hacked Russian files disclose Russia-China propaganda agreement
[Insight News] Russian and Chinese media companies and government representatives agreed to share news and social content under the bilateral pact signed in 2021.Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, a Russian defense ministry spokesperson revived debunked claims about an alleged US-funded bioweapons initiative in Ukraine, accusing Ukrainian labs of conducting experiments with viral diseases. This fake seemed to be hilarious, but the disinformation impact was severe. Russian government disinformation is a long-standing strategy. But China supported Moscow in its propaganda efforts during Russia’s war against Ukraine. Chinese officials and media outlets quickly picked up the Russian fake news and lies, which then developed, like the one on the Biolabs story. The Chinese Communist Party tabloid Global Times produced two eye-catching covers, one of which included a quote from Russian President Putin and one of which had a source that included the Russian Sputnik news agency. The cover yelled, "What is the U.S. hiding in the Biolabs found in Ukraine?" The idea that the Covid pandemic may have started in a lab experiment outside of China had been promoted for months by the Chinese government and media organizations. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, analysts have noticed a blending of Russian and Chinese media narratives. Documents discovered in a cache of hacked emails from Russia’s state broadcaster VGTRK show that China and Moscow have vowed to collaborate in media content by signing cooperation agreements at the ministerial level. Some of the convergence was not accidental and occurred when storylines benefited both authoritarian states’ goals. Russia-China cooperation on news coverage and storylines is a top priority for both administrations, as stated in a bilateral agreement signed in July 2021. Leading Russian and Chinese government and media executives met to discuss various news projects and joint partnerships, including exchanging news content, sharing digital media techniques, and co-producing television programs. The two parties agreed to "further collaborate in the field of information exchange, fostering objective, comprehensive, and factual coverage of the most important world events" as part of the propaganda pact. Russia and China also outlined plans for cooperation on online and social media, an arena that both countries have used to spread misinformation. Posted by: Waldemar the Limber5043 2023-01-03 |
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