China’s participation in and sponsorship of international conferences, closed-door trilateral meetings and other forms of academic exchanges has exploded in recent years. From the near absence of Chinese participants a decade ago, the conference circuit is now swarming with panelists, observers and journalists from China who increasingly set the tone during the panel sessions and Q&A periods.
While such participation is arguably commensurate with China’s size and importance, a pattern has emerged that suggests an orchestrated effort to 'shape' the international narrative on issues of 'core interest' to Beijing, such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea or the 're-unification' of Taiwan.
My article, published today in The Lowy Interpreter, continues here.
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