The French Senate has been actively investigating foreign influence operations, particularly those by China, targeting French democracy, economy, and interests. This inquiry is part of a broader effort to understand and counteract the various tactics used by foreign entities to exert influence within France.
A detailed report by the Strategic Research Institute of France’s Military College highlights the extensive and sophisticated nature of China’s influence operations. These operations range from public diplomacy to more covert and coercive activities, including propaganda, disinformation, and attempts to manipulate public opinion through various channels like think tanks and media.
The French Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Armed Forces Committee is likely involved in this investigation, given its mandate to address such critical issues.
Paul Charon, a researcher at the French Armed Forces think-tank IRSEM (Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’École Militaire), has highlighted China’s significant role in conducting interference and influence operations in France. According to IRSEM’s reports, China employs a variety of tactics to exert its influence, including utilising state-controlled media and social media platforms to spread favourable narratives and discredit opposing views. leveraging economic relationships to influence political and business decisions, applying pressure on French officials and institutions to align with Chinese interests and funding Confucius Institutes and other cultural programs to promote Chinese culture and political views while suppressing dissenting opinions.
China’s influence operations in France have been multifaceted and sophisticated. Chinese state media has been actively involved in shaping narratives within France. This includes placing paid content in major French outlets like ‘Le Figaro’, ‘Le Monde’, and ‘Les Echos.
Additionally, Chinese diplomats and state-linked influencers have used social media to promote propaganda and disinformation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese embassy in France has been known to harass and attack French journalists and commentators online. This includes trolling and public efforts to pressure the media to censor coverage deemed unfavourable by the Chinese government.
China has used its economic ties to influence French business and political elites. For instance, former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has cultivated close ties with Chinese Communist Party leaders.
China has also targeted academic and cultural institutions in France. This includes funding Confucius Institutes, which are often criticised for promoting Chinese government viewpoints and suppressing academic freedom. Efforts to influence the Chinese diaspora in France have also been noted. This includes attempts to control Chinese-language media and community organisations to ensure they align with Beijing’s policies.
These operations are part of a broader strategy by China to exert influence and project power globally. Several EU countries, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, have expressed concerns about Chinese influence. These concerns range from economic dependencies to political and academic interference.
China employs several strategies to influence Chinese communities in Europe to support Beijing’s policies and objectives. For instance, the Chinese diaspora receives a consistent stream of pro-Beijing information through Chinese-language media in Europe that promote narratives favourable to the Chinese government.
In France China supports and sometimes directly controls various Chinese community organisations, which organise events that align with Beijing’s interests. China offers business opportunities, scholarships, and other financial benefits to members of the Chinese community who support Beijing’s policies.
Indeed Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, a researcher at IRSEM, has discussed China’s “Machiavellian moment” in the context of its influence operations. This term refers to a strategic shift where China has adopted more assertive and sometimes aggressive tactics to achieve its geopolitical goals. Emphasising practical and strategic considerations over ideological consistency, this “Machiavellian moment” reflects a more sophisticated and calculated approach to international relations, where China is willing to use a wide range of tools to protect its interests and expand its influence.
Employing tactics that involve misleading or deceiving other countries to gain an advantage. This includes spreading disinformation and using covert operations to influence public opinion and political decisions.This involves a sustained effort to build influence over time, rather than seeking immediate results.
Valérie Niquet, a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), has extensively discussed the perceived threat posed by China and the role of its propaganda bodies. She emphasises that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses various external propaganda strategies to influence global perceptions and advance its geopolitical goals.
Niquet has pointed out that the CCP’s foreign affairs committee oversees these propaganda efforts, ensuring they align with the party’s broader strategic objectives. This includes controlling state media, leveraging social media platforms, and engaging in cultural diplomacy through initiatives like Confucius Institutes.
Her work highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms to better grasp China’s international influence and the potential challenges it poses to global stability.
China’s soft power efforts in Europe have been met with growing scepticism. While China has invested heavily in soft power initiatives, such as cultural diplomacy through Confucius Institutes and media outreach, the agenda of these efforts has been questioned. In many European countries, public and elite opinion has become increasingly negative towards China. China’s economic investments in Europe, particularly in infrastructure projects and technology sectors, have raised concerns about dependency and influence. Some European countries worry that these investments could lead to political leverage. Confucius Institutes are facing criticism for spreading CCP propaganda and restricting academic freedom. There are concerns about the spread of disinformation and the impact on democratic processes.
China has sought to build strategic partnerships with certain European countries, often through economic incentives. While this has led to closer ties with some nations, it has also created divisions within the European Union regarding how to handle relations with China. Overall, China’s soft power initiatives are increasingly viewed with suspicion and concern in Europe.