Chapter 179 179 The Commanding Heights of Public Opinion

Malaysia's foreign communications have basically been cut off by the Chinese military, so that the foreign journalists and diplomats in Malaysia are now anxious like ants on a hot pot.

A group of European and American journalists surrounded an officer who had been temporarily appointed as the spokesperson of the Chinese Humanitarian Dispatch Force in Malaysia, and they did not want to ask any questions at the moment, but shouted anxiously: "Mr. Spokesman, your act of prohibiting us from sending information to China is a serious persecution of press freedom, and we strongly protest and condemn it!" ”

The spokesman said with a helpless but serious face: "Please make this reporter friend clear about the facts before speaking, I believe many of you have already seen that the communication facilities in Kuala Lumpur have unfortunately been damaged, and our engineering personnel are hurrying to repair them, please be patient, we absolutely have no intention of hindering the freedom of the press of the news media." Of course, we also call on all journalists to report on this incident fairly and objectively, and expose the ugly features of the Malaysian government and the atrocities of some people to peace-loving people in all countries of the world. ”

A reporter immediately said: "We are also willing to publish news that exposes the ugly practices of the Malaysian government and local people, so can we borrow the communication equipment of your Chinese media, I know that the news team you sent yesterday is casting a net all over Kuala Lumpur, since they can communicate, we should be able to do it too!" ”

The spokesman shook his head and said: "It's useless for you to tell me about this, I am the spokesman of the military, not the spokesman of the media, and if you have a request, you can go directly to them to raise it." However, my country's media use satellite communications, and even if they agree, they will have to pass through a layer of transit, and I don't know if they will charge you a fee. ”

An Associated Press reporter gritted his teeth and said, "Even if we collect a million dollars, we must pass on the news!" ”

The spokesman is serious, but the people who heard this later were all smiling, this is another good opportunity to slaughter the big family.

Although these international news giants can't get first-hand news information from Malaysia for a while, they are not stupid, and China's major news media, including print media, radio and television, and even online media that have just hit the road, have a lot of information to access.

As a result, a series of large world-class news agencies, such as Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and TASS, began to quote all kinds of news materials published by the Chinese media, such as pictures, full news texts, video materials, and so on.

In addition to the fact that frontline reporters are unable to send back first-hand information, the refreshing and even somewhat stunned news planning skills of the Chinese media have surprised Western journalists and news agencies who look down on the Chinese media. At this time, as in the 21st century, Confucius Institutes are very popular abroad, and the study of China and Chinese culture is not a prominent study, even if the major news agencies can report first-hand information, but they cannot present deeper, more authoritative, and more detailed things, because foreign experts and scholars, or relevant people, cannot explain some of the contents.

For example, the historical origin of Chinese colonization in Southeast Asia, the relevant situation of Chinese exclusion in Southeast Asian countries in the past, including video materials and direct attacks of experiencers, the core of the Chinese exclusion movement in Malaysia, and the relevant circumstances of ethnic conflicts, etc. Coupled with the deployment and deployment of China's military strength, how many troops have been sent to the local area, how short it took China to decide to send troops, and what other possible means for China to follow-up.

Western journalists are confused, but their Chinese counterparts can tell them, so they pay a considerable amount of money (reprint fee) and directly use the Chinese news as a translation to bring it to their own news audiences, and everyone is happy.

Of course, the happiest person is Qi Yiming himself.

The Chinese media's eyebrows and arrogance have nothing to do with him, but Qi Yiming really enjoys the sweetness of mastering the right to speak and knowledge. As the saying goes, knowledge is strength, channel is king, and honesty is not deceiving. When foreign media quote a lot of Chinese news reports, it is inevitable that the problem of taking sides arises. Because when the Chinese media began to write news, they took their own position, that is, Malaysians are unforgivable, and Malaysian Chinese compatriots are miserable and worthy of sympathy.

In addition, in a country like the United States, which has just been influenced by the black people's civil rights movement, equality and freedom are the core values of the founding of the United States, and China, which sent troops to save its compatriots and fight for racial equality and democracy and human rights, naturally has a different image from the socialist countries that have been demonized in the past.

Qi Yiming can not care about other people's perceptions, but it is also very annoying for international public opinion to give it to others for nothing without fighting for it. He came from an era in which China's comprehensive national strength is no longer what it used to be, but the right to speak is still in the hands of Western countries led by the United States.

There have been no reports defending Malaysia, and all people see is that the anti-Chinese riots will take place, and the unequal racial policy, coupled with the anti-Chinese protests that have erupted from time to time, have made the Kuala Lumpur authorities, who are now in the capital, a shameful clown.

There is an atmosphere of sympathy for the Malaysian Chinese in the United States, but it is impossible for the US government to really align with their public opinion. In fact, when the Chinese PLA entered Malaysia in a big way, the Americans were already aware of this phenomenon, and their military base in the Philippines has a radar station to monitor the South China Sea, and it is impossible for such a large-scale air force operation not to be detected by the United States. And from the very beginning of the military operation, the Chinese side did not mean to hide it, and even the news media followed suit, and Washington naturally understood what was really happening.

But more than a day has passed since China sent troops, but neither the White House nor the US State Department has issued any official statement to express its position. Of course, there is nothing on the surface, but in private, the US authorities are no different from their reporters, they are all ants on a hot pot, including the Pentagon, the White House, Langley, the State Department and a series of agencies, all of which have begun to rotate continuously.

President Reagan himself is not a good-natured person, the president who was born as a lifeguard and actor is not the son of a political tycoon, and even after being elected president, he has repeatedly lost his temper, causing jokes, at this moment he grabbed his tie, loosened it, and scolded: "Abominable Chinese, don't they know what it means to stop?" Having just settled the dispute with the Soviets, and at this time there is a massive 'invasion' of Malaysia, I bet the current Soviets must be snickering at us behind our backs - because we have found such an idiot an ally! ”

Secretary of State Schultz also shook his head helplessly, but still said a few good words: "Mr. President, although the Chinese's actions are hasty, but from their own standpoint, I am afraid that there is nothing wrong with it; if we American expatriates are slaughtered abroad, we can send troops to control the situation in less than 12 hours, whether it is the Democratic Party or the Republican government, if we do this, the support will definitely increase greatly." ”

Reagan's face darkened: "But they are a centralized and authoritarian country, a dictatorship. ”

Scholz could only argue: "But unlike most authoritarian countries, it is not entirely appropriate to call dictatorship, at least this country cares about public opinion even more than some so-called democracies." ”

He paused and then continued to say to Reagan: "We believe that this military action will not evolve into a long-term aggression like the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, and the Chinese side does not have the ability to do such a thing. ”

Reagan scolded: "But there are not many Chinese nationals there, and they are basically Chinese in Malaysia." ”

"It's a pity that the Chinese themselves can't tell the difference, in fact, people in most countries can't tell the difference."

Reagan calmed down a little and asked, "How is the embassy in China questioning them?" ”

Schultz replied: "It's basically an official article, similar to what they have published in the news media before, nothing more than to save their compatriots, and there is no substantial malice towards Malaysia, let alone the idea of encroaching on their territory." ”

Reagan asked, "What about the uninhabited islands in the South China Sea?" ”

"Since a month ago, the Chinese Navy has been secretly operating in the South China Sea, and our reconnaissance capabilities have found that they are using a half-ship, half-construction artifact, which is towed onto the reef and then landed as a bunker fortification, and it is very well equipped," Defense Secretary Weinberg explained. Militarily speaking, it does not pose any obstacle or threat to the access of our US Navy, but it does pose a fatal blow to the actions of small surrounding countries in the South China Sea. ”

Schultz added: "China has inherited the original maritime boundary line drawn by the Chiang era, but in the past they were not able to control so far, and now they have taken action, which is indeed worthy of our vigilance." But again, their increased range in the South China Sea would help contain the Soviet Red Navy in Cam Ranh Bay. It also helped us to lock the Soviets tightly within the first island chain in the southwest Pacific Ocean. ”

Reagan was a little irritated, "What a mess, Mr. Secretary, how do you think we should deal with these things now, including the South China Sea island dispute, including Malaysia?" ”

Scholz replied: "The best thing to do is to look at the development of the situation first, not to say anything with obvious meaning, and now it is most appropriate to say something like 'hope for a peaceful settlement, a bilateral ceasefire.'" ”

Reagan nodded and said, "Okay, let's do it, and strengthen communication with the Jingshi, their actions without informing us will destroy the mutual trust between our allies, so we need to be advised." ”