THE highly-regarded Time magazine has said that China has set up a network of pro-Beijing Twitter accounts in Latin America designed to boost the country’s image.
The Twitter accounts are “part of a large state-backed influence operation intended to create positive narratives about China to aid their policy and diplomatic efforts…”
The accounts were set up in the name of a common promoter to promote strategic news content, according to the magazine.
Time noted that China is allowed to experiment with different strategies in Latin America since the online ecosystem there is largely ignored by the United States and social media companies.
“They are playing the long game,” an online analyst was quoted as saying.
The accounts are tied to China News Service, the country’s second-largest state-owned news agency, which operates several international bureaus.
The network is aimed at shaping global opinions about China, Time stated.
In recent years, China has developed diplomatic and trade ties with Latin America and is a leading source of loans and direct foreign investments.
The magazine reported that some experts are concerned that the networks could function as an espionage method for Chinese government agencies.
Through the use of appropriate technology, the Chinese Government could “potentially micromanage narratives and obtain information from dissidents residing abroad.”
Generally, the Twitter initiative is “part of the recipe to get favourable outcomes,” Time stated.
