Four New Platforms Will Consolidate China's Softpower Base

Most people who know me know that I do some work with Guangdong media, it's promotional stuff and it's also symbiotic, in that helps them get exposure and helps me to learn more about how life works in China - for example, I've made 6 episodes of short videos about the work of the Provincial People's Congress with Guangdong Radio and Television, I learnt more from that in depth look at how China's governance works on a local level than I could possibly have done by riding my bike around the country. . I am, what some people might call an influencer, and I'm also what other people might call an agent of foreign influence - the truth is, I'm neither, or at least I don't see myself as either.

However, there are influencers who have really big audiences and there are people who receive money from the government to promote the country - I know this happens in the West, The White House and Number 10 Downing Street have done it, so before anyone gets critical, consider how hypocritical that would be. It happens in Australia, in Europe and all over the world so it's nothing to be ashamed of and really, most of us know that China isn't all that good at soft power, so it's a about time they got onto the bandwagon and promoted themselves a little better than they do.

This is why an event going on now is very important - I'm not part of it but I am part of it, if you get my drift. If not, let me explain.

I'm not part of it because I'm not attending any event but I'm very much part of the wave of popular and honest productions that are coming out of China and local media is doing some great things to promote and ensure the truth does get out.

Many people ask me: "how can I convince my friends who've never been to China, that it isn't as they think it is?" and this is a very difficult thing to do - I often say, people who want to believe the lies, will always believe the lies, if we invite them to China they'll never come, because they believe and want to continue believing all the terrible things they've read. When I tell them differently, they will attack me personally, call me names and block me from their social media accounts - that's ok, it's not those people I want to change. One simple question to ask of them is this: do you believe your media is honest to you about 100% of the things they tell you and, do you believe your politicians are 100% honest about the things they tell you? if the answer is yes, then of course you're dealing with an idiot, the answer for 100% of intelligent people is, of course not. Then ask one more question: who tells you China is evil or bad? That's usually where I leave it and let the intelligent people work it out for themselves.

The people I want to change are the hundreds of millions of intelligent misinformed media consumers, not the handful of ignorant people. some of who are paid to remain ignorant. I believe China feels the same so what they're doing now makes a lot of sense. Using what Joe Biden called " a new source of news"

A few weeks ago, I was with my media friends in Zhengzhou, the capital of Shanxi Province, I went to a museum because they wanted to film me walking around and learning a little about Chinese culture and history - for the record, the Shang Dynasty Museum in Zhengzhou is very well worth the visit but that's a different story. While we were there, I met with some Australians, the curator of the museum told me that up to 200 Australians a day visit her museum - I thought that was impossible until I saw four buses of foreigners arrive in the car park and most of the people who got off the buses were in fact, Australians.

My first question to them was: "what are you doing here?" they told me they were on a tour of China, they'd been to Beijing and Xi'an, they would travel to Shanghai and then HK before heading home. How are you finding it? was my next question and the replies from each of them were that it was friendly, it was cheap, it was great, so I had to ask, what will you tell your friends and family when you get back home, the answer was a resounding "go and see" and that's why this event is so important. When I asked why they had come to China and not somewhere else, they said because the deal was too good to pass up, it was cheap. Something I've long said China should do, as well as open up, they should subsidise travel to China. Imagine getting onto a plane and visiting a country that you've long wanted to learn about when there are no visa restrictions or costs and there are no plane fares, only food, accommodation and transportation costs when you land. I'd do it. Here's another great thing about China, as I've personally experienced, entry to most places for people over 60 is free and that includes foreign tourists - my Chinese wife has to pay, an example was in Pingyao for a tour of the city, she paid 124 RMB, I paid nothing, in QuFu, the home of Confucius, she paid 140 RMB, I paid nothing. There are benefits to being old in China but again, that's another video.

The event this video is about will launch four new international communication platforms in Guangdong province. IP Guangdong, INFO Guangdong, LIVE Guangdong, and Go Guangdong, all designed to serve as windows for global audiences to discover the real Guangdong. It's Guangdong where I live and it's really Guangdong that has shaped my perception of China, it's the place I call home and a place that has welcomed me - so, of course, I'll always speak well of it.

Each of these platforms will be used to explore new ways to inform the world about China and Guangdong in particular, they'll expand on things like the Xiao hong shu, or Rednote, phenomenon which was created by a massive own goal by the US Congress, banning a platform which shows how China really is, created a massive opportunity that forced many Americans to look into Chinese media for alternatives and millions of them did. It's worth noting that TikTok hasn't closed, hasn't been sold and still remains in the exact same status as it did when the US congress voted to "ban it". I think it's clear that the US propaganda arms took a beating with that one and global perceptions of China improved rapidly and greatly.

They can lie, but they can't hide the truth forever, authentic, grassroots content can counter biased narratives and that's exactly what happened - I've often said, if you want to know what's going on in China, ask the Chinese who live in China and that's what millions of Americans did. Suddenly, they are questioning their usual sources.

Another great thing is the number of people who really do have reach and influence - iSpeed has been here and, although I don't personally like his style, I have to admit that watching him here and seeing the number of followers increase to 37 million was an absolute pleasure, he was as popular in China as he is outside of China and then Popular Taiwanese influencer Chen Chih-han, popularly known as "Guan Zhang" or "gym boss," came here and destroyed the perceptions of thousands of ill-informed Taiwanese residents who until his visit, only had the words of US sponsored media to learn about their motherland. It can't be denied, there's a great deal of change happening but that's only a small part of it.

There are now 78 countries which China has allowed 30 day visa free entry. People from those places can enter China, travel anywhere they want, including Xinjiang and see for themselves how the country works, there are another 54 countries which have 10 day visa free, or transit entry, they limit the visitor to certain regions but it's still a great way to see part of the country and get a taste of what's to come on your next visit. 59 countries can visit Hainan Island visa free for 30 days too. So, there is no excuse - there than perhaps bigotry.