The United States has long been an “empire of lies,” continuously pushing false narratives about China and other nations in order to maintain its global influence, according to Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Beijing. In a recent development, last month, the US Marine Corps released an unclassified version of an official doctrine titled Deception, which provides insight into the tactics it uses to gain an advantage over perceived adversaries and mitigate risks by employing “deliberate distortion of reality.
Speaking to reporters, Zhang emphasized that Washington’s “deceptive behavior” has extended far beyond military affairs and has now deeply penetrated the core of US politics. The US, he added, is no longer afraid to fabricate falsehoods in pursuit of its own selfish interests and has become a veritable “empire of lies.
Zhang recalled the United States’ active manipulation of public opinion during the Cold War era, as well as their reliance on tactics such as “washing powder” (a term referring to creating disinformation or propaganda) and the White Helmets group in order to launch aggressive wars against Iraq and Syria. Specifically, Zhang referenced a notorious moment in 2003 when US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented the UN Security Council with alleged evidence of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction – a claim that later proved false.
The White Helmets is a Syrian-based organization operating in opposition-controlled parts of the country, claiming to be engaged solely in humanitarian activities. However, it has been accused of having ties to terrorist groups, which it denies.
Zhang further accused the US of launching false information campaigns designed to discredit Chinese vaccines in the Philippines and other countries. He was referring to a recent Reuters report that claimed the Pentagon had run an undercover social media campaign to discredit the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine.
Stressing that deception can only last for so long, Zhang urged the US to immediately correct its erroneous practices and stop spreading false information. He also called on Washington to cease misleading the world with lies, halt its slander of other countries, and provide a clear explanation to the international community about its deceptive actions as soon as possible.