US move against Chinese media thickens the fog of sophism

The United States has made the decision to treat five Chinese media entities as extensions of the Chinese government requiring them to comply with rules applying to foreign embassies and consulates.

Chinese vehicles for cultural diplomacy are regularly portrayed by the US as "infiltration tools", the editorial line of the Chinese media is belittled as "propaganda" and the protection of China's security is labeled as aggressive espionage.

The US portrays China's Confucius Institutes as "infiltrating" the minds of US students and that the Chinese media "subvert" the US system. The objective is clear. By disparaging the medium, the message is neutralized, if not discredited.

Behind the Sinophobia which partly explains such treatment lies the fog of sophism, that presents a series of legitimate actions in opposition to malicious and malevolent behavior.

One should not get lost in this fog, and believe its proposition that what is true is only what has been exposed in English, with a US mindset and in mainstream US media

That countries try to influence, that they nurture media ecosystems and protect what they consider to be their core interests is a reality of international politics.

That China, which has found its own path to modernization, wishes to communicate its story to the world and acts to promote its interests should not shock anyone.

Diversity of languages, mindsets, interpretations and narratives enrich our world and are essential to the solving of the many long-term problems that humanity as a whole faces.

While the dangers of one-sided politics are often discussed, one should not underestimate the peril of cognitive unilateralism.

If something is said in a way which is not a reflection of the Western mindset and in a media that is not the Western mainstream, it does not mean that it is false or has no value.

The author is a Sinologist and co-founder of the Europe-China Forum. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.