OpenAI reported that Chinese propagandists attempted to use its ChatGPT chatbot to generate opposition to Donald Trump's tariffs and influence debates on data centers and AI. The campaign, active in late 2025 and early 2026, had minimal impact but highlights AI's role in digital influence.
OpenAI identified Chinese influence campaigns using AI to generate social media content against US data centers, promoting narratives about rising costs and Trump's trade policies. While the campaigns lacked significant engagement, they reveal China's testing of influence tactics.
India continues to engage with Myanmar's military junta, prioritizing its own security interests over Western sanctions imposed after the 2021 coup. An invitation to Myanmar's leader is seen as de facto recognition of his status.
US Rep. Brian Mast warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about alleged Chinese "malign influence" in a bid for a $10 billion contract to operate Argentina's Parana River. The tender bars state-owned firms, but Mast claims China is using a Belgian company, Jan De Nul, as a proxy.
US Congressman Brian Mast warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about "malicious Chinese influence" potentially interfering in a major Argentine contract bid for the Parana River dredging and operation. The US fears China may be circumventing rules against state-owned enterprises through private proxies.
Istanbul’s jailed Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's comments come in response to the Commission chief's recent controversial statement that Europe should not "fall under Russian, Turkish or Chinese influence."
Tazara has secured a US$1.4 billion investment from China's CCECC to establish a Chinese-controlled logistics chain from mining pits to Dar es Salaam port. Meanwhile, officials from Angola, DRC and Zambia are working to achieve interoperability, linking the Atlantic port of Lobito with Indian Ocean ports at Dar es Salaam and Mozambique.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is facing accusations of racism in China after a clip showed an Asian assistant character named "Jin Chao," which many online observers say sounds similar to the derogatory slur "Ching Chong." The character was also criticized for having a nerdy image.
A 20-year-old Chinese live-stream host known as Umi was lured to Cambodia and forced into a cyber scam operation. She broadcast live to recount her ordeal before her account was banned. The Fujian native with 24,000 followers was found in distress in Cambodia in January and returned to China. Three months ago, a netizen spotted her near a hotel with a leg injury, looking gaunt and exhausted. Her farmer father had sent over 80,000 yuan ($12,000) after believing she was working in Zhejiang.
A Chinese influencer helped a girl who claimed to be raising her sisters alone in a remote village, only to later discover that some of her hardships were exaggerated. Super Btai, whose real name is Chen Jiajun, is famed for exposing scams and supporting vulnerable communities. He has more than 25 million followers on mainland social media. Earlier this year, Chen met 18-year-old Aji in the mountainous province of Guizhou, in southwestern China. Aji told him she was raising two younger sisters...
