China’s official position on the U.S-Israeli war against Iran has been clear to international audiences from the statements of its highest officials. But what about domestic audiences?
Last week, CCTV released an AI-animated video that presents a window into how the conflict is being framed for and understood by domestic Chinese audiences, as well as into the growing intersection between modern media and communication in Chinese geopolitics.
From the beginning, Chinese officials have described the war as both illegal and a threat to global stability, urging diplomacy and de-escalation, and welcoming recent signals that Trump, at least, is seeking an off-ramp. China’s top diplomatic official, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity this week, fielding calls with major regional powers like Turkey and Egypt while Special Middle East Envoy Zhai Jun met Gulf officials in Beijing.
