cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3385576
The pager and walkie-talkie explosions that occurred in Lebanon on September 17 and 18 resulted in serious casualties and shocked the world. False information quickly circulated over social media among Chinese language users. […] For Chinese nationalists, the explosions provided an opportunity to justify the concerns about Western products and demonstrate that only Chinese-made electronic equipment can provide consumer safety.
Several themes emerged from the Chinese disinformation pieces:
The scenes that falsely depicted the explosions
The incorrect allegation that Taiwan, Israel, Japan, and the United States were part of a conspiracy network
Concerns that iPhones could also explode
The claim that wealthy Middle Eastern countries have quickly abandoned Western-made electronic devices in favor of Chinese products, particularly those made by Huawei
Some of these are fairly funny, like A-like that iPhones would somehow be allowed in China if they had an explosive inside, B- that someone wouldn’t have found an exploit and exploded them all by now
Aren’t iPhones made in China? Wouldn’t they know exactly what goes into them?
Misinformation that are definitely not from the CCP!
If it’s on Chinese social media and it’s not being removed by the CCP, it’s supported by the CCP.
“I’m Xinnie the Poo, and I endorse this message!”
Isn’t all this shit made in China? What “western” country is making pagers?