What was supposed to be a cultural exchange between American university students travelling to China to encourage friendship between the 2 nations and witness the beauty of Chinese culture and some of the great things the Chinese have been able to accomplish ultimately is just a staged propaganda event for the CCP.
Always important to be wary of these social media posts and travel vlogs praising everything China and/or the CCP. Things are not always what they seem, especially when it comes to the CCP. What is the CCP so afraid of to just allow these students to go out and explore their own truths and genuine beauty of China on their own? But that is what the CCP is all about - ultimate and unfettered control.
The email encouraged students to apply for a week-long trip to Jiangsu province, with all costs covered by the Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office. Dozens of other Duke students received the invitation from professors or friends. I was one of them. So was Sophia Lehrman, a close friend whose “how can we turn down a free trip?” energy pushed me to click the button. Chinese is my minor and I have spent more than a decade learning the language. A chance to visit for free in the summer before my senior year at Duke was too good to pass up.
By August, the four of us were among 70 students en route to China for the eight-day tour. Most of us had no idea what to expect.
My first clue that this wasn’t just a sightseeing opportunity was in an email full of disclaimers that arrived at 5:36 a.m. as I was sitting at my gate in LaGuardia Airport, knees propped on my carry-on bag.
“Notice: Media Coverage During Collegiate Immersion Bootcamp,” read the subject line.
The notice, sent from DKU’s Office of International Relations, alerted us that professional photographers and videographers from DKU and local Jiangsu media would join us on portions of the trip.
Some of the footage, it said, “may be utilized as part of our promotional efforts, showcased across our social media platforms, and shared through various communication outlets.”
I would quickly discover why Duke’s China campus sent this last-minute alert. Upon landing, we were met by our tour guide, Frank—and a camera crew. Like others on the trip, I would soon be hounded by Chinese TV crews.
“From the second we stepped into the airport, we were asked to hold a banner and there was a media crew of at least five people holding cameras and interviewing us,” Lehrman recalled.
I came to feel that the trip had two purposes: Yes, we were there to explore a mammoth country with a culture and government unlike the United States. But it also felt like we were helping promote the Chinese government. Many other students felt the same way.
www.theassemblync.com
Always important to be wary of these social media posts and travel vlogs praising everything China and/or the CCP. Things are not always what they seem, especially when it comes to the CCP. What is the CCP so afraid of to just allow these students to go out and explore their own truths and genuine beauty of China on their own? But that is what the CCP is all about - ultimate and unfettered control.
The email encouraged students to apply for a week-long trip to Jiangsu province, with all costs covered by the Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office. Dozens of other Duke students received the invitation from professors or friends. I was one of them. So was Sophia Lehrman, a close friend whose “how can we turn down a free trip?” energy pushed me to click the button. Chinese is my minor and I have spent more than a decade learning the language. A chance to visit for free in the summer before my senior year at Duke was too good to pass up.
By August, the four of us were among 70 students en route to China for the eight-day tour. Most of us had no idea what to expect.
My first clue that this wasn’t just a sightseeing opportunity was in an email full of disclaimers that arrived at 5:36 a.m. as I was sitting at my gate in LaGuardia Airport, knees propped on my carry-on bag.
“Notice: Media Coverage During Collegiate Immersion Bootcamp,” read the subject line.
The notice, sent from DKU’s Office of International Relations, alerted us that professional photographers and videographers from DKU and local Jiangsu media would join us on portions of the trip.
Some of the footage, it said, “may be utilized as part of our promotional efforts, showcased across our social media platforms, and shared through various communication outlets.”
I would quickly discover why Duke’s China campus sent this last-minute alert. Upon landing, we were met by our tour guide, Frank—and a camera crew. Like others on the trip, I would soon be hounded by Chinese TV crews.
“From the second we stepped into the airport, we were asked to hold a banner and there was a media crew of at least five people holding cameras and interviewing us,” Lehrman recalled.
I came to feel that the trip had two purposes: Yes, we were there to explore a mammoth country with a culture and government unlike the United States. But it also felt like we were helping promote the Chinese government. Many other students felt the same way.
How I Accidentally Became Part of China’s PR Campaign
Dozens of Duke University students signed up for a free trip to China. Even the university was surprised by what happened when they got there.
www.theassemblync.com
