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General

  • Domain: A specific area in which the PRC may exert its influence.
  • Indicator: A question testing for the existence of an observable phenomenon of PRC influence.
  • PRC influence – The power to affect the decisions of other countries so that they align with the cultural, diplomatic, economic, military, political, or social interests of the PRC.
  • PRC party-state apparatus – The political framework and network of institutions that coordinate the actions and intentions of the Communist Party.
  • PRC-connected individuals and entities – Actors undertaking activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus. For the purposes of the China Index, PRC corporations, enterprises, and state-owned enterprises all fall into this category.
  • PRC enterprises – Domestic and global companies and their subsidiaries, including both state-owned and privately held firms, that have their headquarters in the PRC, and are controlled by a PRC-connected individual, entity, or enterprise via either shareholding or influence over managerial decision-making. Such enterprises undertake commercial activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus. For example, while the PRC government holds a minority stake in Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), the chipmaker conducts operations in line with PRC national strategy to become self-sufficient in semiconductor technology and production.
  • State-owned enterprises – Legal entities that undertake commercial activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus, including stock companies in which a state entity is the dominant shareholder.

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Media

  • Belt and Road Media Cooperation Alliance/Union, or the Belt and Road News Alliance – A group of media organizations from the PRC and member countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (formerly One Belt, One Road) that coordinates positive media coverage of the BRI.
  • Online influencer – A social media content creator or account that has established credibility or influence and can sway opinion on a specific topic or industry, or is sufficiently popular to persuade a large audience through their postings.
  • Training – Classes or events held in the PRC on topics such as Chinese language, economics, foreign policy, media and politics, as well as internships or placements at PRC news organizations. Such training is usually fully funded by the host organization and promotes positive coverage of the PRC.
  • State media, state-controlled media or state-owned media – Media for mass communication, including broadcast, digital and print outlets, that is under financial and editorial control of the PRC government, directly or indirectly. For example, CGTN, Xinhua News, China Daily.
  • PRC enterprises – Domestic and global companies and their subsidiaries, including both state-owned and privately held firms, that have their headquarters in the PRC, and are controlled by a PRC-connected individual, entity, or enterprise via either shareholding or influence over managerial decision-making. Such enterprises undertake commercial activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus. For example, while the PRC government holds a minority stake in Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), the chipmaker conducts operations in line with PRC national strategy to become self-sufficient in semiconductor technology and production.
  • Government advertisement – Paid-for content that is created and funded by PRC state media, including stories written by state media journalists, often promoting the PRC’s standing in the world. For example, the UK Daily Telegraph’s (now discontinued) China Watch newspaper supplement.
  • Censoring critical views – Can include both overt censorship and more subtle shifts in editorial balance and tone. For example, in 2008 European satellite operator Eutelsat cut the feed of New Tang Dynasty TV, a US-based multilingual television station funded by the Falun Gong spiritual movement, as a goodwill gesture to the PRC. Other example: In 2015, the nominally private PRC company CEFC acquired a stake in Czech media counterpart Empresa Media, securing access to a TV station (TV Barrandov) and magazines. A study by MapInfluenCE, a group tracking PRC influence, found the acquisition made PRC coverage broadly more positive.
  • Doubts about human rights abuses in the PRC – For example, a media personality who expresses doubts that there are internment camps in Xinjiang; that suppression of ethnic minorities exists; that human rights defenders are subject to harassment, enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention; or that freedom of expression, association, and religious belief, (etc.) are restricted.

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Foreign Policy

  • (中央党校) Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party – A higher education institution that trains Communist Party cadres in Beijing.
  • (国家行政学院) Chinese Academy of Governance – A training institution for government officials that was incorporated into the Central Party School in 2018.
  • Hostage diplomacy – The taking and holding of foreign citizens as hostages for diplomatic reasons. For example, in December 2018, Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were detained and later indicted under state secret laws in what is widely viewed as an act of retaliation for Canada’s arrest of the Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou.
  • United Nations agency – Specialized international organizations working with the United Nations that are funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions. For example, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), etc.
  • Intergovernmental organization – An organization composed primarily of sovereign states or of other intergovernmental organizations established by treaty. E.g. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
  • PRC territorial claims – Aside from the South China Sea disputes, the PRC claims territory that does not lie within its borders in several countries, including Bhutan, Japan, India, Mongolia, Nepal, and South Korea. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the PRC has more actively enforced such claims to underline growing international strength and influence.

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Academia

  • Research partnership – Formal academic or corporate research partnerships between a higher education institution and a partner entity, including colleagues, universities, and commercial partners, based in the PRC. For example, Southampton University’s partnership with Harbin Engineering University.
  • Confucius Institutes/Classrooms – Public educational partnerships between colleges and universities in the PRC and colleges and universities in other countries; the partnerships are funded and arranged in part by Hanban (the Office of Chinese Language Council International, also known as the Confucius Institute Headquarters), a PRC government-affiliated organization, and have the stated aim of promoting Chinese language and culture.
  • PRC-affiliated networks/associations – Formal and informal groups of think tanks or academic institutions instigated by the PRC government to promote collaboration among their stakeholders.
  • PRC talent recruitment programs – Government administered and funded programs designed to attract overseas academic researchers in high-value areas such as science and engineering to the PRC.
  • Attempts to censor staff or students – Efforts to narrow the space for creating, sharing and questioning ideas related to the PRC. For example, by harassing students protesting human rights abuses in the PRC, formally complaining about the identification of Taiwan as a country in lecture slides, or threatening students who express support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
  • Involvement in curricula design – Where either the framework or theory behind the curriculum is based on the work of PRC scholars, the curriculum is originally designed by the PRC government, or elements of an existing native curriculum have been changed at the request of a PRC entity.
  • Sensitive political issues – Issues that are frequently censored in the PRC, portray the PRC or Chinese people in a negative light, and around which the PRC narrative is substantially different from that understood by international scholars. E.g. Uyghur internment camps, Taiwan independence, the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Hong Kong’s legal and political system, the Falun Gong spiritual movement, etc.

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Domestic Politics

  • State-owned enterprises – Legal entities that undertake commercial activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus, including stock companies in which a state entity is the dominant shareholder.
  • Other forms of support – For example, access to privileged information or invitations to economic, social and cultural exchanges, academic conferences, economic forums, or fully funded trips to the PRC, etc.
  • United Front Work Department (UFWD) linked groups – Civic, educational, and non-governmental groups and affiliated individuals based abroad that the UFWD can call upon to act for its political purposes, especially in times of crisis.

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Economy

  • Extractive industries – Industries involved in extracting raw materials from the earth (such as oil, metals, minerals and aggregates), as well as their processing and preparation for consumers. E.g. coal mining, oil refining or gas processing.
  • PRC-related entities – Entities that undertake activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of the PRC government or party-state apparatus.
  • Critical infrastructure – Infrastructure and assets vital to national security, governance, public health and safety, economy and public confidence. E.g. agricultural production, data infrastructure, energy transmission and power plants, financial services, health provision, transport networks (bridges, ports, roads, rail lines), water services, etc.
  • Sensitive sectors – Sectors that pose the greatest risk from a national security perspective, including aerospace, biotech, communications, critical government suppliers, data infrastructure, defense, energy, engineering, transport, etc.
  • Economic coercion – The leveraging of economic dependence to achieve a wider aim, often involving trade measures such as sanctions or deals; currency manipulation; or the provision or withdrawal of foreign aid, foreign direct investment, or people flows. For example, after Australia backed a global inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, the PRC blocked its coal imports, imposed tariffs on Australian wine, and discouraged Australian students from visiting.
  • Support of cause deemed unacceptable by the PRC government – Causes include: Falun Gong, Taiwanese independence, Hong Kong democracy, Tibet or Xinjiang issues.
  • Special economic zones – A designated area in a country that is subject to unique, usually less onerous economic regulations that differ from other areas in the same country.

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Technology

  • Smart city systems – Integrate or collect data gathered from censors (e.g. smart meters and CCTV cameras), social media, websites, and/or digital applications into a single virtual platform in order to streamline city operations.
  • PRC-connected venture capital – Funds or individuals that invest in start-up or early growth businesses under an arrangement with the PRC, in the service of the PRC, on the order or at the request of the PRC, or under the direction of the PRC.
  • Technological development – E.g. Artificial intelligence, big data analysis, biotech, blockchain, cloud computing, connected cars, cybersecurity, green energy, semiconductor chip design and manufacturing, or smart mobility systems, amongst many others.
  • BeiDou satellite navigation system – PRC satellite system with global coverage that offers navigation and timing services provided, similar to Russia’s GLONASS, the European Galileo positioning system, and America’s GPS.

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Society

  • Chinese diaspora community events and activities – For example, Chinese culture and language seminars, disaster appeal events, Dragon Boat tournaments, Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival events, Tiananmen Square Massacre memorial services, as well as discussions, fares, festivities, panels, and workshops, etc.
  • Closely engaged entities – For example, communication between the two bodies is frequently conducted through established channels, and works to serve purposes such as facilitating personnel exchanges, work placements and internships, workshops, forums and speaker events, as well as advising/instructing on the content of events, materials, and memberships.
  • Entertainment products and related hardware – For example, Cable/satellite channels hosting dramas, news and other TV shows, digital streaming movie and music platforms, computer/mobile game subscriptions; and the hardware required to transmit them (e.g. over-the-top streaming players hosting PRC media channels).
  • Cultural products – For example, books, computer games, movies, music, theater and TV shows, etc.
  • Propaganda narratives – Ideologically driven narratives that i. Proclaim the superiority of the PRC political system, governance and world view, or the shortcomings of alternatives (such as democracy). ii. Focus on political topics or debates, e.g. Nazi Germany’s concept of Lebensraum, the Empire of Japan’s concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, or the PRC’s narrative that COVID-19 did not originate in China.

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Military

  • Receiving direct or deferred benefits – For example, cash transfers, financial assets such as bonds and stocks, property, fully-funded trips to foreign countries, or appointments to lucrative positions as board members or consultants with PRC-connected companies and think tanks, including casinos, energy and telecoms companies, etc.

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Law Enforcement

  • Terrorism – From the perspective of the PRC government, is the use or threatened use of violence to effect political or ideological change in the PRC, used as a justification for repressive “counter-terrorist” policies such as the mass internment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The definition of terrorism differs among scholars, between international and national bodies and across time and there is no international legally-binding definition.
  • PRC-connected gangs – Organized crime groups that have a parent or host chapter based in the PRC, or which undertake activities under an arrangement with; in the service of; on the order or at the request of; or under the direction of a PRC-based counterpart.
  • Suspected to benefit – Suspicions can be based on reasonable proof of culpability, including academic research, corporate, police or security service investigations, specialist agency reporting (e.g. cybersecurity firms), government statements, and media reports.