Amidst the escalating tensions in the Middle East due to the US airstrikes on Iran, the Chinese military has been actively issuing statements through its propaganda system, urging Chinese society to “always maintain a clear-headed sense of preparedness in times of peace.”
On February 28th, the “Jun Zhengping Studio” under the Chinese Communist Party’s Liberation Army Daily released a commentary through its official Weibo account titled “The Chinese people must always maintain a clear-headed sense of preparedness. The current international situation is complex and volatile, with hidden risks and challenges. Once the alertness slackens, it may lead to irreparable losses for the country and its people.”
An insider within the Chinese Communist Party, Mr. Song, stated during an interview that official Chinese texts often carry subtle implications that are not easily discernible to outsiders. He mentioned, “They depict military expansion as necessary defense, softening the diplomatic stance. However, the most crucial sentence in the entire article is ‘once the alertness slackens, it may lead to irreparable losses for the country and its people.'”
Mr. Song further highlighted, “The phrase ‘irreparable losses’ sounds grave, but it does not pinpoint the enemy, specify the nature of the incident, or provide a timeline. The consequences are portrayed as significant, yet the threat is not clearly defined. Such wording keeps people on edge without a clear understanding of what exactly they should be guarding against.”
The commentary also emphasized that “being prepared while at peace” is a survival wisdom of the nation, urging everyone to “remain vigilant and be prepared in advance.”
Military scholar Liu Xiaodong (pseudonym) stated that when expressing a tough stance, the Chinese Communist Party often chooses to leave things unsaid. He commented, “The words are not explicit, without naming specific targets, but the meaning is crystal clear. By not specifying a target, the threat can be applied in different contexts at any time. Such long-term rhetoric naturally maintains societal tension.”
On March 1st, the Chinese military’s new media platform “China Military Number” once again released a video with the accompanying caption, “For that day, we do not expect it, but we do not fear it!” Many observers believe that such expressions carry clear connotations of preparedness for war.
Liu Xiaodong, who has been involved in Communist Party propaganda work, mentioned that these kinds of comments are often coordinated and not isolated actions. He explained, “Typically, the diplomatic system first emphasizes restraint, followed by military media highlighting risks. It may sound restrained externally but continuously reminds internally of the dangers. Ordinary netizens find it challenging to discern this division of labor.”
In the comment section, some individuals wrote, “Only when we are strong, no one dares to bully us,” while others stated, “Seeing the current international situation, Chinese people must unite.” Discussions gradually transitioned from the Iran situation itself to topics like “strong nation” and “unity.”
An internal source familiar with the workings of the Chinese Communist Party, Ji Xiao (pseudonym), mentioned that the dissemination strategy of official media is not random. He stated, “They present complex international conflicts as emotional narratives, naturally aligning people, but they avoid discussing power structures and responsibility issues.”
Against the backdrop of intensified tensions in the Middle East, this military commentary, while not lengthy, consistently underscores vigilance and readiness in nearly every sentence.
Ji Xiao believes that this commentary downplays the background of Iran’s long-standing leader, Hassan Rouhani, instead highlighting his role as a “victim” in the attacks. He commented, “When the power narrative is removed, the public only sees images of the country being struck. Once the emotion is stripped away, the judgment of right and wrong becomes blurred.”
Several interviewees also noted that the Chinese Communist Party invests substantial funds annually in the propaganda field, amplifying emotions on international conflict issues through repeated dissemination and packaging of textual content. They link external events with internal security, ultimately steering discussions towards unity and a strong military mindset.