China Plays Subtle Influencer Game In India Through Smart Investments

Somewhat on the lines of a Middle Eastern rich but small country, China is trying to use its money to buy credibility in the Indian setting. Research has found out that China is trying to buy influence in India by pumping in money into the film industry, universities, social institutions, research think tanks, social media and even the technology industry. This is proving to be a huge risk to the national security and democracy of the country.

In a 76-page report, it has confirmed that China is working in a deep way to get into the bones and veins of the Indian milieu. The report has been released by the Law and Society Alliance recently termed ‘Mapping Chinese Footprints and Influence Operation in India.”

The report also claims that the Chinese Communist Party government and Chinese intelligence services has in fact developed huge influence into various Indian sectors. This has been going on for years.

China ‘s strategy has been to increase Beijing’s influence in strategic Indian investments and also voting pattern of the common man. This also includes propaganda efforts in the socio-political realm through the Confucius Institutes.

For the entertainment industry, it has not had to try too hard but only invest in spending its money in co-production of movies. An example given in the report is that of hosting the China-India Film Co-Production Dialogue at the Beijing International Film Festival in 2019. The Chinese influence even successfully managed the participation of prominent Indian cinema icons like Shah Rukh Khan and Kabir Khan. There is also in existence a Chinese lobby group run by an Indian lobbyist working as an influencer in the Bollywood industry.

Strangely, they have used the same strategy it has been using in the social media to attack its formidable enemies in the western world. It uses a subtle but systematic method of influence in India too. By doing this, Beijing has been able to win prominent individuals in film regulatory bodies that have ensured that Chinese interests are well represented in Bollywood, or at the very least not harmed. One instance of this is how the Chinese successfully influenced the producers of some prominent movies and embed tailor made narrative in their movies. One such movie mentioned is ‘Rockstar’.