People wear face masks while walking on Park Avenue in New York City on March 29. (Photo by Noam Galai via Getty Images)

Fighting Xi’s Propaganda While the West Prepares for a Surge in Cases

As the coronavirus pandemic leaves many Americans and Europeans confined to home or hospitals, another global front is being fought: the propaganda blame game. The Chinese Communist Party has ramped up messaging efforts to deflect responsibility for the pandemic and cover-up at a time when many nations prepare for a surge in hospitalizations.

Join our experts tomorrow for a livestreamed event on China’s “charm diplomacy,” and the medical supplies being shipped out by Beijing under the guise of humanitarian aid. Next Monday, Nadia Schadlow will host Under Secretary of State Keith Krach to discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to protect America’s economic security in the face of the pandemic.

From concealing information about the virus at home to deploying propaganda abroad in an attempt incentive democracies to adopt Beijing's vision for the world, Peter Rough explained the shift in China's posture in Foreign Policy:

"Take, for example, the decision by Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to donate 800,000 masks to the Netherlands. Why would the conglomerate, known for its closeness to the Chinese government, display such benevolence toward a country which, at the time, had hardly any coronavirus cases? Surely it could not be because the Netherlands’ auction of fifth-generation (5G) mobile licenses is slated for June. … Or consider Italy, where China has sent doctors and donated ventilators that have been in short supply. Does China’s newfound interest in Italy’s well-being stem from genuine concern, or from that of Rome’s status as one of Europe’s biggest supporters of the Belt and Road Initiative?"

Christopher O'Dea describes in National Review how China is taking advantage of the virus crisis to advance its economic leverage through acquisition of ports in Italy and ultimately the EU and revealing the true nature of their investments:

"By quietly acquiring a global network of commercial ports from countries and investors unable or unwilling to maintain their critical economic infrastructure, China has reverse-engineered the logic of conquest: Chinese state-owned companies now control a base network of the sort that previous global hegemons obtained through military victory. ...  China’s commercial maritime network is far more dangerous than any collection of Belt and Road projects; it’s up and running right now, giving China’s logistics SOEs a say in the economic-development, financial, and trade decisions of major developed countries. The contracts to operate ports and logistics sites run for decades, and China is only now starting to use the influence it has acquired.

Walter Russell Mead argues in the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese Communist Party's handling of the coronavirus pandemic will fundamentally alter the U.S.-China relationship:

"The party’s compulsion to enforce a backward-looking conformity on a vibrant, educated population pushes it down a path of increasing repression and centralization of power, undermining Beijing’s governance at home and frustrating its drive for respect and acceptance abroad. ... Americans of all political stripes have noticed that Beijing is inquiring about our cauldrons. The expulsion of U.S. journalists reinforces this perception and may push the U.S. into a more combative stance against the Chinese Communists. The whole world must now hope that Beijing reconsiders its chosen path, not least for its own sake."

In The Federalist, Rebeccah Heinrichs outlines best practices from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau for limiting the spread of COVID-19:

"Every step of the way, Beijing has been dishonest to its people and to other nations affected by a pathogen that originated in Wuhan, China. ... Contrast China’s patterns of abuse, cover-ups, inhumane treatment of the Chinese people, and blatant disregard for infecting others to the effective and humane work in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. ... All three have very different degrees and measures for pursuing the following strategies, and to be sure, some of the measures will cause Americans to bristle and would challenge the U.S. Constitution. But considering their proximities to China, it is remarkable that their governments and cooperative citizens blunted the first wave of the virus so effectively and so much more humanely than the CCP."

Tom Duesterberg highlighted how China may use the pandemic to push its dangerous 5G technology on Europe:

"As the U. S. and Europe struggle with containing the pandemic, China appears ready to exploit the situation and promote its efforts to overtake the West and its allies in technology and political influence. The U. S. needs to remain vigilant in these tough times and not neglect its strategies to counter the Chinese offensive, especially in the well-vetted areas of 5G telecommunications and other technologies of the future. The adoption of standards in this field may be a test case of U.S. resolve and ability to act effectively in international forums."

To track all the latest geostrategic analysis of the pandemic, don't miss Hudson's coronavirus homepage.

ICYMI: Ken Weinstein Nominated as Ambassador to Japan

Last month, President Trump formally nominated Hudson Institute President and CEO Kenneth R. Weinstein to be the United States ambassador to Japan.

Senator Tom Cotton said:

“Throughout his distinguished career, Ken has been a tireless advocate for American interests, at home and abroad. He will serve as a terrific steward of the US-Japan alliance, the cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to supporting his nomination.”

Senator Joe Lieberman said:

"Ken Weinstein is a longtime friend and also a widely respected foreign policy professional with the perfect mix of wisdom, expertise and humility needed to represent our country in Japan at this crucial moment."

You can read the full press release here. 

Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

Hudson Highlights

New Episode of The Realignment

On the latest episode of The Realignment, Saagar and Marshall sat down with Matthew Continetti, founding editor of the Washington Free Beacon, who argues that the coronavirus outbreak has accelerated generational and ideological changes on the right.

Last week, The Realignment caught up with Michael Doran, Peter Rough, and John Lee to discuss the geopolitics of the COVID-19 outbreak.

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