China’s Propaganda – Part 4 (“How to Do Propaganda Work for a Foreign Audience”)
As we continue our exploration of China’s propaganda machine, let’s remember that the Chinese government’s propaganda has two target audiences, with two methods: domestic and foreign.
Domestically, the methods include repression, censorship, and cracking down on individuals and media who could challenge the government’s official line. We’ve been covering this angle for the past few posts.
With foreigners, the Chinese government’s methods are less brutal, more subtle. But because they’re more subtle, it’s not always apparent on the surface how foreigners are “managed.” The China Digital Times describes China’s intensive, coordinated efforts:
In recent years, “external propaganda” (对外宣传) has become an increasingly important function in the Chinese Communist Party and government. [...] The following transcript [...] is an internal speech by a Party leader of Suixi County government at the county’s external propaganda conference. [...]:
… The current situation for external propaganda: A grand development needs a grand opening, and a grand opening needs grand external propaganda. At present our country is in the grand development and opening up period, especially for the 2008 Olympic year. [...]
…The Information Center of the county government must strengthen the Internet news management, and do a good job in selecting, filtering and transmitting information from different work units. It must quickly block, divert and respond to bad public opinion and information online, under the principles of unity, stability and positive inspiration. In the meantime, it must strengthen the positive online propaganda, using mainstream, positive opinion to influence and guide netizens.
…Strictly follow the discipline of external propoganda [sic]. External propaganda requires strong political sensitivity, policy understanding, strategic thinking and disciplinary work. [...] Discipline is the lifeline of external propaganda and the assurance that the political mission and social responsibility of external propaganda will be achieved. Every county, township and each department must make sure to control and reduce negative news. You must be the propoganda [sic] person, and the fire extinguisher. You must take care of your responsible territory, and quickly handle any problems. External propaganda work must have rules, have procedures, and have discipline. Events which violate the discipline must not be allowed. One must have correct guidance on public opinion, and insist that unity and inspiration, and promotion of the positive spirit, form the mainstream opinion and guide the social tendency.
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