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Dive into the world of WeChat and discover how China is changing the rules of the information warfare game.
Chinese state security actively uses social media as a propaganda tool to promote Beijing's positions and policies. In September, the service posted almost 50 articles and comments on WeChat, as well as three videos. Although the ministry does not disclose the number of subscribers to its WeChat account, 36 of the published articles attracted 100,000 views each.
Experts note that the activity on social networks reflects the strengthening of the agency's political role under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has made national security a priority in recent years. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, a professor at the University of Texas, said the new WeChat account may be a reaction to recent decisions to strengthen national security education and changes to the anti-espionage law.
The main purpose of the WeChat account is to promote Xi Jinping's "total security" concept, as well as raise public awareness of counterintelligence. The account also actively covers issues of American intelligence directed against China. An example is the publication that the US National Security Agency hacked the telecommunications giant Huawei, as revealed in documents leaked by Edward Snowden in 2013.
The ministry also used its WeChat account to announce the arrest of a Chinese official surnamed Hao, who is accused of being recruited by the CIA while studying in Japan.
Despite the active use of social media for propaganda, experts believe that foreign policy decisions are still made at the highest level, and Xi Jinping remains the main decider in these matters.
Chinese state security actively uses social media as a propaganda tool to promote Beijing's positions and policies. In September, the service posted almost 50 articles and comments on WeChat, as well as three videos. Although the ministry does not disclose the number of subscribers to its WeChat account, 36 of the published articles attracted 100,000 views each.
Experts note that the activity on social networks reflects the strengthening of the agency's political role under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has made national security a priority in recent years. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, a professor at the University of Texas, said the new WeChat account may be a reaction to recent decisions to strengthen national security education and changes to the anti-espionage law.
The main purpose of the WeChat account is to promote Xi Jinping's "total security" concept, as well as raise public awareness of counterintelligence. The account also actively covers issues of American intelligence directed against China. An example is the publication that the US National Security Agency hacked the telecommunications giant Huawei, as revealed in documents leaked by Edward Snowden in 2013.
The ministry also used its WeChat account to announce the arrest of a Chinese official surnamed Hao, who is accused of being recruited by the CIA while studying in Japan.
Despite the active use of social media for propaganda, experts believe that foreign policy decisions are still made at the highest level, and Xi Jinping remains the main decider in these matters.
