China's perception management within Pakistan

A banner shows Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain (L), President Xi Jinping (C) and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with the words "Pakistan and China are iron brothers" on it, ahead of Xi's visit to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, April 18, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite cordial relations between governments of China and Pakistan, there is an emerging challenge of perception management which is affecting the youth within Pakistan and could have long-term repercussions on this growing relationship. China-Pakistan have a favorable narrative, but if you dig down deep and analyze it critically, it needs greater effort on part of both countries to overcome the challenge of perception management, especially within Pakistani elite.

Although the bond between both nations is strong, the perception played by hostile groups is affecting young minds within Pakistan. Majority of the people of Pakistan, especially the lower class and lower middle class are fond of China and value her cooperation with Pakistan and are less affected by negative perceptions; however the elite class has been bewildered by western influence and negative perception about China. Those who study or work abroad (especially western countries) have been stuffed with ill themes about China. Hiding behind the themes of so-called free world, some of the elite have accepted western hegemony and are ready to forego their own culture and identity and sell it for few coins, compromising national security. Some Pakistani academia have been hijacked by them and young minds are being poisoned with negative themes about China-Pakistan relationship. Some newspapers and even social media platforms have joined in and are attacking through mainstream media to chop down the bonding tree. As the elite gets manipulated so does the overall perception of the nation.

One thing China needs to understand is the effectiveness of perception management across the world. Dollars are being fed to those who work for a certain agenda across the world to support anti-China movements. Here, propaganda themes of ill treatment of Uighur Muslims are spread to create wedge between China and Pakistan. Most of the news is propagated from New York Times and Reuters as well as western channels who have sponsored links with some local media houses. Such propaganda news by western news channels are just pasted in Pakistani newspapers without checking the authenticity. The bewildered herd has no idea whatsoever about the ground reality as they have never been to Xinjiang or Beijing. Despite growing relationship, the negative perception about China in the elite class of Pakistan is a bad omen.

China must recognize these false themes played in Pakistan and help build up new perception management projects in Pakistan. Promoting workshops in Islamabad and Beijing will improve the perception of both nations. An exchange program can be organized between top universities of both nations in order to help students share opinions. Urdu and Mandarin should be taught to help people communicate easily. China needs to build new universities in Pakistan to attract elite class and middle class students. It can offer more scholarships to Pakistani students and give them an opportunity to work know China and help build its positive perception in Pakistan. There is also need for China to make mass media institutes in Pakistan with CCTV in the main front, sharing news in English and Urdu.

In fourth generation war it's vital for China to embark on a global perception mission. It needs to build up and experiment with creative ideas to handle misinformation and propaganda. It would be a good step for Pakistan and China to check western propaganda and counter them with effective narrative.

Umar Waqar is a freelance journalist based at Lahore and a Student of Journalism in Beaconhouse National University and can be reached at yallaumar12345@gmail.com.