Covid origins, nationalism, and diasporic heterogeneity: China, Chineseness, and Covid-19

Morris, Carwyn, Li, Andy Hanlun ORCID: 0000-0002-0521-6033 and Ruan, Lotus (2023) Covid origins, nationalism, and diasporic heterogeneity: China, Chineseness, and Covid-19. In: Butter, Michael and Knight, Peter, (eds.) Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective. Taylor and Francis Inc., 43 - 57. ISBN 9781032362137

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Abstract

This chapter critically examines both the types and networks of disinformation produced in Sinophone and English languages by a variety of "Chinese" actors and institutions, most notably: state representatives and state-affiliated media of the People's Republic of China; Chinese diasporic media publication, The Epoch Times; and the broader media network associated with Guo Wengui, including GNews. It starts by highlighting two key theories that emerged around Covid-19 in the People's Republic of China (namely the United States military transmission theory and the Fort Detrick lab-leak theory), before showing how this information was spread through multimedia video content. Through interview data, the chapter also highlights how these theories influenced people's perception of Covid-19 in the People's Republic of China, both online and offline. The second section examines how actors and institutions involved in a variety of contradictory political projects attempt to influence how Covid-19 is imagined outside of the People's Republic of China, particularly among the American right and the Chinese diaspora. The chapter highlights how a more nuanced understanding of "China" and "Chineseness" is necessary to properly contextualize these sources of information; how the flattening of China and Chineseness can contribute to disinformation and misinformation; and, how the study of Covid-19 disinformation and misinformation illuminates the contours of ongoing geopolitical rivalries.

Item Type:	Book Section
Official URL:	https://www.routledge.com/Covid-Conspiracy-Theorie...
Additional Information:	© 2023 selection and editorial matter, Michael Butter and Peter Knight; individual chapters, the contributors.
Divisions:	International Relations
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine J Political Science > JZ International relations H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2023 00:04
Last Modified:	25 Nov 2024 17:48
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/118514

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