Okay, so I just published "The Question Dynasty: How China's Freedom to Ask 'Why?' Created History's Greatest Innovation Engine," where I spent a good chunk of digital ink laying out how ancient China was, for 1,500 years, the undisputed heavyweight champion of global innovation.
Not only that, the next piece in my innovation series is going to continue demolishing Eurocentric historical myths and, yes, giving even more props to the incredible achievements of historical China.
"Uh oh, is this guy about to start waving a little red book and telling us Xi Jinping Thought is the new enlightenment?"
Look, I don’t blame you for wondering that, the last few years have seen an insane rise in Sinophilia. It’s honestly been a bit strange to watch.
When I first started researching the history of science and technology in China, the social media landscape was very different and I had a hard time persuading anyone that China had made any meaningful contribution.
Now, I worry I sound like just another waiguoren who has fallen in love with China.
Let me be clear: my profound admiration for the civilization that gave us meritocracy, paper, and a proto-scientific method is a universe away from, and often diametrically opposed to, the iron-fisted, information-controlling regime of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Why is this Sinophilia trend on the rise?
Social media has changed the world, especially how people get the information they use to form their opinions about the world.
A lot of people are learning that American/European media regarding China has, for many years, supported a less than accurate portrayal of the country.
In coming to grips with the reality that “Western” media is often a mix of fact and propaganda, some people have decided that Chinese media, or influencer media, is a more accurate depiction of the country.
The problem is, recognizing that Western media often gets China wrong doesn't mean Beijing's sophisticated propaganda is suddenly gospel.
Reality is that/bias exists in all media, from all sources, there is no truly unbiased source and the sooner you recognize that the better off you’ll be.
Even worse, the pro-China stuff surfacing online, and from some truly weird political corners, rarely amounts to nuanced appreciation.
A lot of it is just straight up state sponsored bullshit, and Americans and Europeans are being taken for a ride, even while they’re utterly convinced that they’re truth-tellers.
Let's dive into how this pro-PRC narrative gets pushed, starting with the most visible culprits.
Red Carpets and Filtered Realities
One of the most obvious spectacles is the sudden conversion of Western social media "influencers" into ardent defenders of the CCP. It usually starts with a free trip and ends with gushy videos about how misunderstood China really is.
The All-Expenses-Paid "Truth Tour"
The playbook is almost comically predictable. The CCP, or its proxies, invites a gaggle of Western influencers on these lavish, meticulously curated "discovery" tours.
Special emphasis is often placed on "sensitive" regions like Xinjiang. You know, the place where human rights groups and multiple governments have documented mass detention, forced labor, and cultural genocide.
And wouldn't you know it? These influencers return, eyes supposedly opened, declaring that Western media has been lying all along! Xinjiang, they gush, is a vibrant paradise of happy, dancing Uyghurs and fun "vocational training centers."
It's amazing what you can discover when your entire experience is filtered through government handlers and five-star hotels. Suddenly, "genocide" claims are just Western slander. All it took was a free plane ticket!
This isn't new. Think Potemkin village tours during Mao's Great Leap Forward, showing a thriving countryside while millions starved. It's that, but rerouted through TikTok and with better drone shots.
"I'm Just an Independent Thinker!" (Paid for by...?)
When confronted, these influencers often play the indignant card: "These are my genuine opinions! I wasn't paid!"
And maybe some believe it. But let's get real. Even without an explicit contract, the ecosystem of influence is clear. Continued access, perks, and opportunities depend on favorable coverage.
Some "Multi-Channel Networks" (MCNs) demonstrably connect influencers with Chinese state-affiliated entities, helping monetize pro-China content. How "independent" is your thinking when your business class upgrades hinge on not noticing the watchtowers?
It's curious how "independent thought" so often aligns perfectly with the party line of the folks footing the bill.
When MAGA Met Marx (And Both Swiped Right on Beijing)
If the influencer grift wasn't cringe enough, get ready for some truly head-scratching political alliances. It turns out, the PRC has fans in some very unexpected places.
Introducing "MAGA Communism"
Behold, the political chimera you never asked for: "MAGA Communism." Yes, you read that right. This is a fringe but vocal group blending Trump-esque populism with a fervent admiration for the CCP's authoritarian model. Think influencers like Jackson Hinkle, who somehow squares this ideological circle.
It's what happens when your anti-establishment rage goes through so many ironic filters it comes out praising... state capitalism with extra surveillance and a side of genocide. They project "strength" and "anti-globalist" credentials onto the PRC, seeing it as a challenger to a liberal democratic order they despise. It's a bold take, especially if you know anything about, well, actual communism or actual China.
Authoritarianism, But Make it Efficient (and Anti-Woke)
Beyond the truly out-there "MAGA Commies," there's a broader attraction to the PRC from certain segments of the far-right. They might not be waving little red books, but they're definitely impressed.
The talking points? Praise for China's supposed social order, its "decisive" governance, and its shiny (often decontextualized) infrastructure. They nod vigorously when Beijing talks "national sovereignty"... especially when it deflects criticism of their own preferred strongmen. Crucially, many see China as a bulwark against "Western decadence" or "wokeness." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for instance, digs this vibe.
For a certain type of conservative, China looks like a fantasy: no pesky human rights lawyers, a population that "knows its place," and gleaming trains. What's not to love, if you can ignore the totalitarianism and concentration camps? Minor details!
The contradiction is almost painful: self-proclaimed patriots championing their own nation's sovereignty while cheering for a regime that tramples on everyone else's.
The Far-Left's Selective Anti-Imperialism
And lest you think the political horseshoe isn't real, let's wander to the far-left. Here, another group finds common cause in defending the PRC.
Their arguments? China is a vital counter to US/Western imperialism. Any enemy of Washington is, if not a friend, then deserving of defense. They often mischaracterize China's hyper-capitalist, state-controlled economy as some "socialist alternative," despite the glaring lack of workers' rights or real democratic control.
You'll also hear "whataboutism": "How dare you talk about Xinjiang when America has [insert historical injustice]?" As if one crime excuses another. And then there's Tankie-ism – uncritical support for any regime that positions itself as anti-US, no matter how brutal.
Is it genuinely anti-imperialism, or just a preference for a different brand of imperialism? Defending a regime that bans independent trade unions, jails feminists, and runs cultural genocide? It's a choice, and a baffling one for self-proclaimed leftists.
United by Disdain.
So, what connects these MAGA-hat-wearing CCP fans with the anti-imperialist defenders of Beijing's iron fist? A deep disillusionment with Western liberal democratic systems. They've all stormed out of the same party (liberal democracy) and are now awkwardly bonding over their shared hatred of the DJ.
China becomes a convenient symbol, a projection screen for their grievances. The "enemy of my enemy" heuristic, supercharged by algorithms.
Why Now? Western Malaise and Beijing's Opportunism
This strange bloom of pro-PRC sentiment didn't just happen overnight. It's a crisis of confidence in the West, meeting Beijing's increasingly sophisticated opportunism.
The West's Wobbly Self-Image
Let's be honest, Western societies are grappling with political polarization, economic anxieties, and a sense that our institutions are creaking. This "crisis of confidence" can make some receptive to narratives praising a seemingly "strong" or "efficient" alternative, even if it comes with jackboots.
When your own house feels chaotic, the neighbor with a ruthlessly tidy lawn (who "disappears" litterers) can start to look appealing.
Selling Authoritarianism Like It's a Hot New App
Beijing is running a deliberate, multi-billion dollar global campaign to promote its governance model as a superior alternative. It's "narrative warfare," folks.
Tactics? Massive investment in global state media (CGTN, Xinhua), sophisticated use of influencers ("borrowing a mouth to speak" 借船出海), cultivating foreign elites, and providing free, unlabelled pro-CCP content to media outlets worldwide. Freedom House reports Beijing spends billions annually on this. It’s a firehose of propaganda aimed right at us.
The "Enemy of My Enemy" Online Dating Service
For those already critical of US foreign policy (often for legitimate reasons), China's rise is welcomed as a challenge to that order. China isn't a complex state with its own brutal agenda; it's a geopolitical middle finger to Washington.
Economic Umbilical Cords (and Golden Handcuffs)
We can't ignore economic interests. For some influencers, it’s direct: "Travel, Cash, Kudos." But often, it's indirect. Businesses, universities, even nations hesitate to criticize the PRC for fear of economic retaliation. Principles get flexible when billions in trade are dangled. The golden handcuffs are still handcuffs.
The Allure of Authoritarian Efficiency (If You Ignore the Screams)
Then there are those genuinely, if misguidedly, impressed by China's rapid infrastructure development. The high-speed rail, the new cities, the cheap futuristic electric cars. They contrast this with messy democratic processes and sigh, "Why can't we just get things done like that?"
This romanticized view overlooks the human cost, lack of accountability, and sheer brutality. "Wow, they built a hospital in ten days!" Sure, try asking about labor conditions or whose homes were bulldozed. This "efficiency" argument seductively whispers of trading freedom for a facade of progress. It’s a terrible deal.
What This CCP Love-in Actually Costs
Okay, so people are saying nice things about an authoritarian regime. Why really care? Because this isn't abstract. It has severe, real-world consequences.
Whitewashing Atrocities: The Xinjiang Glamour Shots
A primary function of these pro-PRC narratives is to deny, downplay, or reframe severe human rights abuses.
Take Xinjiang. Influencer narratives of "happy Uyghurs" deliberately obscure the reality documented by the UN, Amnesty, and multiple governments: mass detention, forced labor, torture, forced sterilizations, cultural erasure. As the U.S. State Department has put it, it’s genocide and crimes against humanity. Reviewing a gulag on TripAdvisor doesn't make it a resort.
Then there's Hong Kong. The narrative is that the draconian National Security Law "restored stability." This ignores the systematic dismantling of "One Country, Two Systems," jailing activists, and shuttering independent media like Apple Daily. The "stability" is that of a graveyard.
This yellow-washing makes international accountability incredibly difficult.
Corroding Our Brains: Propaganda's Attack on Democratic Discourse
This deluge of pro-PRC propaganda damages public discourse in democracies.
Erosion of trust: Credible journalism exposing abuses is labeled "Western bias" or "fake news."
"Flooding the zone": Vast quantities of state-sponsored narratives make it hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Bad info drives out good.
Fueling polarization: These narratives arm groups prone to anti-Western or conspiratorial views.
When your feed about a superpower looks curated by its Ministry of Truth, critical thinking nosedives.
The Long Arm of Beijing
This isn't just online. The CCP increasingly silences critics beyond its borders. This is transnational repression.
We're talking about harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of activists, journalists, and diaspora communities in our own countries. "Unofficial police stations" in cities like New York and Toronto? Yep. This exports censorship and fear, chilling free expression in America, Canada, and all across Europe.
Thinking Straight in a Bent World
The information landscape is a minefield. What's a thinking person to do?
1. Don't Get Bullied by "Nuance" Trolls.
China is vast, complex, and its people aren't the CCP. Simplistic "China Bad" is as unhelpful as "China Perfect." BUT, "it's complicated" is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for atrocities. You can see nuance and call out evil. Don't let "nuance trolls" silence you.
2. The "Follow the Lanyard and the Lucre" Principle.
Apply radical skepticism. If an influencer suddenly becomes a gushing PRC superfan after a free trip, or their access to "sensitive" regions like Xinjiang is suspiciously easy, raise your eyebrows. Way up. Cui bono? Who benefits if you believe this?
3. Remember Real Strength Isn't Blind Obedience.
My "Question Dynasty" argument was that China's historical golden ages often allowed questioning and debate. True strength comes from intellectual vibrancy, not rigid conformity. The modern CCP demands ideological lockstep. Praising that by invoking ancient glories is historically illiterate. It's like praising a book burner by saying he appreciates literature.
4. My View from Taiwan:
Living in Taiwan, a vibrant democracy the CCP fantasizes about crushing, gives perspective. Watching Westerners romanticize the regime that wants to "re-educate" 23 million Taiwanese is... a trip. Taiwan proves "Chinese culture" is compatible with freedom. The CCP hates this. When Western voices amplify PRC narratives threatening us, it's about our survival.
Don't Be a Tool.
Here’s the bottom line: engage your critical faculties. All of them. It's easy to fall for sophisticated propaganda, especially if it taps into your grievances or confirms your biases.
The CCP is selling a product: authoritarianism. They'll tell conservatives it’s order, leftists it’s anti-imperialism. Seek diverse, independent sources. Read history. Talk to people who've fled authoritarianism. Learn to spot propaganda's red flags.
In the grand casino of global narratives, the house always wants you to play their game. Don't be a sucker. Think for yourself. Question everything. And for God's sake, don't become an unpaid intern for an authoritarian PR department. Your brain cells, and maybe the future of a freer world, will thank you.