Politicians leverage anti-China rhetoric to get votes while mainstream media use it to get an audience.
Just write "China bad" and automatically get 2x more views and clicks.
When was the last time you read something positive or even neutral on China in the mainstream media? I can't remember the last time. Probably before Trump.
1.4 billion people and not a single positive thing happens in China, according to Western media.
Show a Chinese person being happy? Must be CCP propaganda.
You didn't automatically say "China bad"? CCP shill.
Show a Chinese company having international success? Must have stolen the tech.
Social media app that US teens love to use? China must doing mass surveillance on Americans.
This sort of black and white demonizing of China creates extremist views. You can see these extremist views on China all over HN, where one expects users to not be easily deceived. I was wrong.
People are so concerned and fearful of pro-China propaganda that they don't even realize they've been drinking propaganda from the other side as well.
Mainstream media gets more views and clicks by generating fear, anger and saying "China bad":
* Your view of China turns negative over time
* Politicians need your vote in order to advance their careers
* Politicians say "China bad" to get your votes
* Media quotes politicians saying "China bad"
* Your view of China turns even more negative
* Politician's approval ratings are down
* Politician says "China bad" to distract you
* Your view of China turns worse
Because of this endless cycle, it's career suicide for a US politician to not be anti-China. Any US politician objectivity on China has been lost since 2016.
And it's not like there are alternative media since the media landscape has consolidated into a handful of powerful conglomerates.
I know some will accuse me of being anti-western or pro-CCP below. No. I'm not. I'm anti-extremists.
The fact that even people on HN are convinced by the good (western) vs evil (China) narrative shows you how effective this sort of thing is.
Just write "China bad" and automatically get 2x more views and clicks.
When was the last time you read something positive or even neutral on China in the mainstream media? I can't remember the last time. Probably before Trump.
1.4 billion people and not a single positive thing happens in China, according to Western media.
Show a Chinese person being happy? Must be CCP propaganda.
You didn't automatically say "China bad"? CCP shill.
Show a Chinese company having international success? Must have stolen the tech.
Social media app that US teens love to use? China must doing mass surveillance on Americans.
This sort of black and white demonizing of China creates extremist views. You can see these extremist views on China all over HN, where one expects users to not be easily deceived. I was wrong.
People are so concerned and fearful of pro-China propaganda that they don't even realize they've been drinking propaganda from the other side as well.
Mainstream media gets more views and clicks by generating fear, anger and saying "China bad":
* Your view of China turns negative over time
* Politicians need your vote in order to advance their careers
* Politicians say "China bad" to get your votes
* Media quotes politicians saying "China bad"
* Your view of China turns even more negative
* Politician's approval ratings are down
* Politician says "China bad" to distract you
* Your view of China turns worse
Because of this endless cycle, it's career suicide for a US politician to not be anti-China. Any US politician objectivity on China has been lost since 2016.
And it's not like there are alternative media since the media landscape has consolidated into a handful of powerful conglomerates.
I know some will accuse me of being anti-western or pro-CCP below. No. I'm not. I'm anti-extremists.
The fact that even people on HN are convinced by the good (western) vs evil (China) narrative shows you how effective this sort of thing is.