cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3385576

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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:

  1. The scenes that falsely depicted the explosions

  2. The incorrect allegation that Taiwan, Israel, Japan, and the United States were part of a conspiracy network

  3. Concerns that iPhones could also explode

  4. The claim that wealthy Middle Eastern countries have quickly abandoned Western-made electronic devices in favor of Chinese products, particularly those made by Huawei

  • Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    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

    • jaybone@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Aren’t iPhones made in China? Wouldn’t they know exactly what goes into them?

      • nyan@lemmy.cafe
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        2 months ago

        The pagers and walkie-talkies may well have been made in China too.

  • jaybone@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Isn’t all this shit made in China? What “western” country is making pagers?

      • nyan@lemmy.cafe
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        2 months ago

        China doesn’t accept that Taiwan is a separate country, so I can’t see it counting.

        • Nobilmantis
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          2 months ago

          Huh? But I am assuming you do, so what is the issue here in counting it as a separate country?

    • tpihkal@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      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!”