Chinese Netizens and the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Illuminating a Complex Sociocultural Landscape

The Israel-Hamas conflict has not only dominated international headlines but has also captivated Chinese netizens, offering a window into the multifaceted sociocultural landscape of China. In this blog post, we delve into the reactions and behaviors of Chinese netizens, offering insights into the complexities of their digital engagement with the global stage.

Expressing Opinions in the Digital Sphere:

In a nation where public discourse is carefully controlled, Chinese netizens have turned to social media to voice their opinions. Chinese social media certainly experiences a lot of state down restrictions, but also provide rare limited opportunities for free expression of thoughts. In this instance the Israel-Hamas conflict has become a symbolic battleground for the expression of their views, transcending its immediate scope to reflect deeper attitudes toward domestic and foreign policies. How such discussion of foreign matters reflects domestic attitudes is because a lot of Chinese netizens engage with discussing international conflict as a metaphor to express their own views on domestic matters.¹ Diverse opinions underscore the unique role of digital media in shaping sociocultural expression. In the case of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the relationship between domestic and foreign attitudes is interesting to analyse especially regarding China’s infamous relationship with the US and their relationship with Israel. Netizens’ attitudes towards the conflict in the middle east might reflect the extent to which they are willing to align their views in support of and with those of the state.

Knowledge Seeking and Misinformation

Amid this digital discourse, a notable knowledge gap exists among Chinese netizens concerning the historical context of the Israel-Hamas conflict.² Many actively seek information about Israeli and Jewish history to gain a better understanding of the ongoing conflict. The Weibo account of Israel’s Embassy in China has become a focal point for those seeking knowledge about the conflict. In a nation where accurate information can be elusive, the digital landscape is swiftly evolving to meet the growing demand for global awareness. 

However, this knowledge-seeking journey is not without challenges. Limited exposure to foreigners and a lack of foreign language skills have created a breeding ground for conspiracy theories within China’s digital sphere. The Weibo account of Israel’s embassy is not only popular for knowledge seeking, it is also filled with Islamophobia.³ There are also netizens promoting baseless beliefs such as the notion that Jews control the United States.⁴ These unfounded claims from all sides persist in the digital space, as the Chinese government and state-owned media often avoid addressing them directly. This phenomenon underscores the urgency of promoting media literacy and critical thinking among netizens, especially given the prevalence of misinformation in digital spaces. However, the Chinese state has no incentive to promote such values as they aim for cultural governance through aligning the public’s interests with those of the state.

Implications

The Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen through the lens of Chinese netizens, uncovers the intricate dynamics of sociocultural expressions in China’s digital landscape. It showcases a diversity of perspectives on foreign policy, the role of the United States in global affairs, and the stance of the Chinese government. As Chinese netizens continue to engage with the world through digital platforms, their evolving views will not only shape Chinese society but also contribute to shaping global conversations and narratives.

China’s tightly controlled online environment means that the government’s stance often shapes public opinion. As part of the state’s goal of cultural governance, they aim to align public interest with that of the state through various means such as propaganda and censorship. The growing number of young Chinese people actively trying to find their own sources of information instead of closely following state approved accounts regarding the situation gives us insight in novel trends throughout China’s sociocultural landscape. This might as well have positive influence on media literacy and critical thinking among netizens if it were not for the abundance of misinformation and conspiracies that result from limited exposure and understanding. In an ever-evolving digital age, where culture, society, and the digital landscape intersect, Chinese netizens occupy a unique position, where tradition and modernity, censorship and expression, misinformation and knowledge-seeking come together.

References:

1. Mu, C. (2023, Oct 13). The Chinese Public Is Closely Watching the Israel-Hamas War. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/the-chinese-public-is-closely-watching-the-israel-hamas-war/ ↩︎
2. Ibid ↩︎
3. Horwitz, J. (2018, May 28). https://qz.com/1290584/israels-very-popular-on-weibo-thanks-to-chinas-online-islamophobia ↩︎
4. https://www.163.com/dy/article/G20R0D490543L1MM.html ↩︎