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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 or 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-funded 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 or is otherwise supported by 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.
  • Human rights abuses in the PRC – Restrictions are in place to prevent discussion of internment camps in Xinjiang; that suppression of ethnic minorities exists; 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.
  • One China Principle vs. One China Policy The “One China principle” is the stance of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there is only one sovereign entity called China, with the PRC as its sole legitimate government, and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. In contrast, the “One China policy,” as adopted by countries like the United States, acknowledges the PRC’s position regarding Taiwan but does not explicitly endorse or reject it. In this context, “my country’s own ‘One China policy’” is a general term used for foreign policy stances that, like the U.S. policy, differ from the PRC’s “One China principle” while acknowledging the claim. For further reference on the differences between the U.S. “One China policy” and the PRC “One China principle.”: https://www.us-taiwan.org/resources/faq-the-united-states-one-china-policy-is-not-the-same-as-the-prc-one-china-principle-/
  • Strategic Partnership A classification used by the PRC to describe the level of diplomatic relations with foreign states. A Strategic Partnership signifies close bilateral ties involving cooperation in multiple domains, such as politics, economics, culture, and security. There are also stronger forms of partnership classifications, such as Innovative Strategic Partnership or All-Round Strategic Partnership, which indicate deeper and more comprehensive collaboration. These designations reflect the importance and intensity of diplomatic ties between China and the partnering country. For more information, refer to China’s Emerging Partnership Network.
  • 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.

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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. In recent years, some Confucius Institutes have undergone rebranding but still maintain ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This indicator also includes Chinese language centers that function similarly to Confucius Institutes but excludes those that solely offer language exchanges with PRC-based institutes. For more information, refer to: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=2022063015261078-3
  • PRC-affiliated or connected individuals or entities – Formal and informal groups or individuals 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.

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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.
  • PRC-affiliated or connected individuals or entities, networks/associations – Formal and informal groups or individuals of think tanks or academic institutions instigated by the PRC government to promote collaboration among their stakeholders.
  • 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.

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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 or PRC-connected 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.
  • 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

  • PRC-related or PRC-connected 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • United Front Work Department (UFWD) – United front work is a unique blend of influence and interference activities, as well as intelligence operations that the CCP uses to shape its political environment, including to influence other countries’ policy toward the PRC and to gain access to advanced foreign technology.
  • Closely engaged – 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).

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Military

  • Received 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.