China

Islamic Republic of Iran is ‘controlling the war narrative’ on TikTok with Chinese media

Published

1 year ago

October 27, 2023

The Islamic Republic of Iran, which is Hamas’s state sponsor, has been spreading propaganda through the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin. Chinese state media outlets also share Hamas’ propaganda on Douyin as well, in order to promote a pro-Hamas and pro-Iran narrative.

The Islamic Republic’s Embassy has backed Hamas’ attack on Israel and blamed the United States for tensions in the Middle East, and have vowed to support Hamas’ efforts through its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

“The Iranian Embassy in China released a video: What is hell on earth? Hell looks like Gaza after Israeli bombing,” said Chinese-state-run media outlet Guancha in a post.

The Foreign Desk writes that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has deliberately avoided mentioning Hamas while maintaining a distance from Israel. Chinese officials have tried to position Beijing as a peace broker in the Middle East conflict but has not condemned Hamas and its terrorist actions.

Iran’s Embassy said on Twitter that its followers on Douyin crossed the one million milestone. Tehran’s China mission now has over 1.3 million followers on Douyin.

Since the Hamas attack on October 7th began, the Iranian Embassy’s videos on Douyin have generated hundreds of thousands of views. A video message and visuals of the bombing of al-Ahli Hosptial in Gaza by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad was posted last week, and the Embassy of Iran stated that Israel “must be internationally designated as a terrorist.”

China

Chinese National Charged with Exporting Weapons from CA to North Korea

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2024

Sara Carter Staff

A Chinese national living in California was arrested this week for allegedly orchestrating a plot to ship weapons to North Korea directly from the United States. Shenghua Wen, a 41-year-old illegal migrant, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of two decades in federal prison, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Daily Caller News Foundation reports that Wen allegedly exported firearms, ammunition and other military items bound for North Korea out of Long Beach, California. In a press release following the arrest, DOJ officials suggested that Wen was acting at the behest of North Korean officials.

“We have arrested a defendant who allegedly acted at the direction of the North Korean government by conspiring to illegally ship firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment to North Korea,” U.S. attorney Martin Estrada stated. “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for stopping this threat and their tireless commitment to the security of our nation.”

“The significance of this arrest and discovery of this scheme cannot be overstated,” FBI Los Angeles assistant director in charge Akil Davis stated. “Not only did the investigative team prevent additional restricted items going to the North Korean regime, but they gathered valuable intelligence for the United States and our allies.”

“The defendant’s alleged attempts to illicitly export firearms and military technology from the United States at the behest of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitute an alarming violation of sanctions and export control laws,” special agent in charge Gregory Dunlap of the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) stated. “OEE is committed to working with our federal partners to identify and disrupt illegal export schemes that undermine regional stability and our national security interests at home and abroad.”

The Daily Caller adds that the number of Chinese nationals illegally crossing into the U.S. reached a peak in fiscal year 2024, according to Customs and Border Protection. Border Patrol agents encountered nearly 38,000 Chinese nationals.