US Actions Portray It as Reckless Aggressor, Not Chinese Propaganda
Chinese state media is subtly portraying the US as a belligerent and destabilizing force in the Middle East, most notably through a viral AI-generated video. This video uses a narrative of Persian cats, representing Iran, battling a white eagle, symbolizing the US, in a conflict over resources. The message aligns with Beijing’s broader narrative of the US as a declining, aggressive hegemon, contrasting with China’s image as a steady and peaceful rising power, and leveraging popular cultural tropes to make its geopolitical points palatable to domestic audiences. This strategy serves to counter accusations of China being a destabilizing force and to present China as a provider of global stability.