Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Chinese state media and government officials have been increasingly echoing Russian disinformation and undermining Beijing’s efforts to promote a neutral position. As Russia faces renewed condemnation for the atrocities in Bucha and other areas, China has intensified efforts to spread propaganda and undercut U.S. and European diplomatic efforts.
“Russia and China have long shared distrust and animosity toward the West,” said Bret Schafer, an analyst who tracks disinformation for the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a nonprofit group in Washington. “On Ukraine, it’s a level above that — just the extent to which they have parroted some pretty specific and in some cases pretty far-fetched claims from Russia.”
