BEIJING — China’s Communist government’s message may have been arbitrary and strict once, but that is no longer the case. The Chinese government, which has largely tamed the domestic internet through heavy censorship, is now harnessing the power of social media and artificial intelligence to tell its own story, often to skewer the United States and its president.
Chinese state media is telling an allegory of the Iran war with a five-minute AI-generated animation modeled after classic wuxia movies. A white eagle wearing a regal costume representing the United States lets out an evil laugh, and troops attack a group of Persian cats wearing black cloaks instead of Iranians. Iranians vow to continue fighting even after losing their leader and closing vital trade routes.
The metaphor-rich short story, which touches on injustice, revenge and worldly wisdom, is the latest in several AI-generated animations created by Chinese state media in recent months to portray the United States as a global bully, including President Donald Trump’s threat to take over Greenland and plans to assert American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
The clever use of AI animation comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping has long pushed to increase the country’s ability to get his message out to the world, gain a greater say in global affairs, and counter Western narratives that Beijing often views as biased or even derogatory towards China. Pro-Iran groups are similarly using sophisticated AI-generated memes to mock the United States and Trump.
This is part of an escalating global information war in which the United States is stepping up its efforts to counter anti-American messages abroad and push back against worldviews that are contrary to American interests.
A recent cable from the State Department warns that foreign messaging campaigns conducted by foreign state media on digital platforms “pose a direct threat to U.S. national security and incite hostility against U.S. interests.”
China finds new ways to spread its worldview
AI-generated “infotainment” spread through social media is likely to be more effective in persuading young audiences around the world to accept China’s views and is becoming routine in Chinese messaging, said Shi Anbin, professor and director of the Israel Epstein Global Media Communication Center at Tsinghua University.
“This is a new way for Chinese mainstream media to help global Gen Z viewers and social media users understand China’s position and views on international affairs,” Shi said.
Reporting on the Iran war is perhaps one of the most sophisticated efforts by Chinese state media.
The show, released on social media by state broadcaster China Central Television, went viral in the country and drew rave reviews from Chinese viewers for translating a complex geopolitical war into easy-to-understand events. The video went viral across the English-language world after user X posted the clip online with subtitles, garnering more than 1 million views in just a few days.
“It’s not even propaganda. It just seems like a historical fiction dramatization of the situation,” said Andrew Chubb, a senior lecturer in Lancaster University’s School of Global Affairs who studies political propaganda.
Messages become less boring
We are a long way from the days when China’s message was blunt. Party newspapers published hollow-sounding speeches full of slogans extolling the country’s advantages while denouncing Western influence. Students and lower-level cadres complained of the dry study materials they were required to study to pass exams on party history and ideology.
Beijing began to change as young people turned their backs on the rigid party language.
No longer frowning at brash web language, they embraced it to tell the party’s history and turned to rap music to celebrate the party’s achievements. The company is currently recruiting pop singers and actors to star in patriotic films, relying on popular appeal to draw young people to theaters rather than orders or free tickets. The anti-corruption TV series has also become a hit due to its interesting plot, punchy dialogues and great acting.
Pressed to make their messages more appealing and effective, state media are experimenting with non-traditional formats, such as short-form, digitally native content using AI, said Wang Zhichen, deputy executive director of the China Globalization Center, a Beijing-based think tank.
“No matter what you think about the format, it’s clear that the message itself is resonating with a growing number of viewers, which helps explain why such content gains traction online,” Wang said.
Social media ‘matrix’ targets global audience
China is channeling funds into promoting narratives targeted to audiences around the world, and it has built a massive “matrix” of social media accounts on various platforms such as X and Facebook, managed by diplomats, state media, influencers, and even bots. And they take every opportunity to get their message out.
In February, state news agency Xinhua released an AI-generated music video satirizing the US threat to take over Greenland.
“Whatever I want, I’ll get it. I’ll get it in any way,” sings a bald eagle character in military uniform.
In March, after President Trump convened the “America’s Shield” summit, Xinhua News Agency posted a short video depicting a bald eagle caging a small bird in the name of national security.
“Sometimes security requires a little control,” a bald eagle in a suit says to the caged birds.
