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What’s happening: Chinese state media and pro-China social media accounts are amplifying false claims about the Iran war aiming to bolster its ally Iran while sowing distrust of the West among citizens of China, the Taiwanese, and the Chinese diaspora globally.
Context: China and Iran maintain a close strategic partnership. China has long been the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil and supplies Iran with military equipment, including missiles and drones. Iranian officials describe their ties with Beijing as a “priority” of their foreign policy, while Chinese leaders call Iran a “comprehensive strategic partner.”
As Iran’s war against the United States and Israel enters its third week, NewsGuard has found that China is increasingly echoing Iranian talking points — including falsehoods — about purported U.S. military failures and Iranian successes.
Iran downed U.S. jet? Chinese state media falsely claims that Iran’s Air Defense Force shot down a U.S. fighter jet near Iran’s border with Kuwait on March 2, echoing attempts by Iran to portray the Islamic state as gaining the upper hand in the war.
On March 2, Iranian state media outlets reported that the country’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Air Defense Base shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet. Iranian outlets described...
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Support us by becoming a premium memb...