According to a report by the South China Morning Post, a person pretending to be a Russian soldier has been spreading false stories on a popular Chinese social media platform. The individual, operating under the name “Pavel Korchati,” used Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) to fabricate stories related to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. This raised suspicions due to the user’s perfect Chinese pronunciation and the fact that they used IP addresses from within China.

The main objective of the “Pavel Korchati” account was to fuel anti-American sentiment and promote an alliance between Moscow and Beijing through the creation of fictional stories and interactions. This incident sheds light on the concerns surrounding the influence of Russian propaganda in China and its impact on public perception.

It is evident that there is a close information-sharing relationship between Beijing and Moscow, with both governments displaying a favorable stance towards Russia. China has offered nonlethal assistance to Russia in its war efforts and echoes Russian narratives regarding the conflict, aligning itself with Moscow’s rhetoric.

The growing alignment between China and Russia in the realm of communication has given rise to concerns about the spread of disinformation and propaganda. This poses challenges for efforts aimed at combating misleading narratives and misinformation within these spaces.