Laura Rosenberger on China’s Adoption of Russian Disinformation Tactics in Axios

Director Laura Rosenberger explained that the Chinese party-state’s information manipulation tactics in the past few weeks have diverged from what we’ve seen in the past in Axios. She pointed out three main tactics that Beijing has applied in its coronavirus messaging campaign that clearly resemble Russian strategy: It has been spreading “multiple conflicting theories”; it has amplified “conspiracy websites”; and it has coordinated the use of diplomatic and embassy Twitter accounts and state-backed media to help boost the theories.