China’s Manipulative Tactics Exposed
Italian Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata has raised alarm over China’s use of deepfake technology, espionage via Chinese-made devices, and the leveraging of its cultural institutions for propaganda purposes. These manipulative tactics mirror China’s modus operandi, which people of Hong Kong and Taiwan have long been acquainted with.
Examples of Manipulation
- Case of a Taiwanese woman finding footage of the earthquake recorded by her home security camera on a Chinese social media platform.
- Discovery of a deep fake video of a Ukrainian student at the University of Pennsylvania speaking Mandarin, selling products, and propagating anti-Western messages.
Unbalanced Economic Relationship between EU and China
Senator Terzi highlighted the unbalanced economic relationship between the European Union (EU) and China, with the EU facing a significant trade deficit. Despite being major economic partners, the trade goods per day are valued at 2.3 billion euros, with the EU trade deficit reaching almost 400 billion euros.
EU’s Concerns on Human Rights Issues
Terzi emphasized the importance of China honoring its commitments in Hong Kong and welcomed the EU’s efforts to engage in dialogue on human rights issues with China. The EU expressed deep concerns about systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet, treatment of human rights defenders, and erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.
Concerns about Chinese Cultural Institutions
Senator Terzi expressed concern about the role of Chinese cultural institutions, such as the Confucius Institutes, accusing them of spreading Chinese propaganda and censorship. He warned about the narrative produced by the Chinese Communist Party aiming to rewrite history and erase different cultures, especially democratic ones.