【Epoch Times, 07 July 2025】 Czech renowned YouTuber, Martin Mikyska, showcased in a video how he attracted Czech influencers to participate in a fictional “China trip” to test their moral compass and awareness of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The video garnered 1.57 million views and was hailed by Czech netizens as “the perfect civic education material.”
In his YouTube program, Mikyska set up a scenario to test whether influencers would accept a free trip to China. He invited 40 influencers for the “China trip,” offering to cover all expenses, and seven of them attended the interview.
Mikyska’s team introduced the travel itinerary to these influencers, including visits to the Great Wall, a panda conservation area in Chengdu, and a trip to the “Chinese island Taiwan,” aiming to gauge their awareness of political sensitivities and geopolitical issues.
Despite subtle hints that the trip was part of a propaganda campaign organized by an authoritarian regime, some Czech influencers still showed interest in the journey.
The video, titled “We invited influencers to a trip to China, how did it turn out?” has accumulated 1.57 million views since its release in mid-May, with Czech netizens commenting that it is “the perfect material for civic education” and “thank you for exposing the hypocrisy of influencers.”
This video was a response to Czech influencer Jan Michálek’s trip to China last year. Michálek, with 224,000 followers on Instagram and nearly a million on TikTok, is a well-known influencer in Czechia.
Last year, Michálek proudly shared that he was invited to film in China. He mentioned that about eight cameras were present during filming, and the content would be broadcast on Chinese TV or media websites, although he was unsure of the final purpose.
According to mainstream Czech media iDNES.cz, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) and experts have issued warnings, stating that influencers filming in China are too “naive” and could fall prey to Chinese (CCP) propaganda.
Ladislav Šticha, a spokesperson for the Czech Security Information Service, stated that this is a consistent pattern of Chinese (CCP) operations. China (CCP) has long sought to shape the world’s perception of itself and conceal negative aspects like human rights abuses, oppression of minorities, cyber espionage, among others.
Šticha believes that while politicians are targeted to influence decisions and academics to acquire technology and patents, journalists and influencers are used to disseminate favorable images and narratives about China (CCP) to a wide audience.
He emphasized the importance of individuals in a democratic society taking personal responsibility and exercising caution, especially when traveling to countries like China. While the state cannot and should not prohibit people from visiting China, society should establish mechanisms for self-defense.
Regarding Czechia’s reliance on Chinese products, raw materials, and technology components, Šticha warned that it poses risks to both economic and cybersecurity. He also highlighted the threats posed by Russia, aiming to regain influence over Czechia, emphasizing that promoting China (CCP) and Russia would harm their national and citizens’ interests.
Ivana Karásková, the head of the China project at the Association for International Affairs (AMO), added that inviting influencers to film in China is part of the CCP’s global propaganda strategy. While previously targeting politicians, businessmen, media, and scholars, China (CCP) has now included influencers who can influence specific audiences.
Karaskova pointed out that Czech influencers filming in China may be driven by a lack of understanding of the CCP’s influence, naivety, and financial incentives. China (CCP) often offers full subsidies and luxurious treatment, turning influencers into channels for spreading favorable narratives about CCP.
She warned that this whitewashes the authoritarian regime in China (CCP) and diverts attention from human rights issues. Moreover, such partnerships are often opaque, allowing CCP narratives to seep quietly into Czech society.
Karaskova mentioned that in the past, China (CCP) used paid articles, media investments, and collaborations with private radio stations for propaganda, and while these strategies have been exposed, China (CCP) continues to seek new methods to shape international opinions.
(Source: Central News Agency)