POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: China Defence Minister Urges Nations to Curb Regressive Historical Trends
The Claim A viral post circulating on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Telegram has claimed that the Chinese Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu, urged nations to...
The Claim
A viral post circulating on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Telegram has claimed that the Chinese Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu, urged nations to curb what he described as ‘regressive historical trends.’ The claim was attributed to a statement made during an international military conference or diplomatic engagement, though no specific event or date was cited in the original post.
The post included a screenshot of a news headline from Reuters, titled ‘China Defence Minister Urges Nations to Curb Regressive Historical Trends,’ which was shared widely with the caption: ‘China is trying to control the narrative of history. What’s next?’
The Details & Investigation
Upon reviewing the source material provided, the Reuters article referenced in the viral post appears to be a summary of a speech delivered by General Li Shangfu at the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. The original article, as reported by Reuters, states that General Li emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and preventing the distortion of history in the context of regional security and cooperation.
However, the exact wording of the statement attributed to the Chinese Defence Minister in the viral post—’urge nations to curb regressive historical trends’—does not appear verbatim in the official transcript or press release of the speech. Instead, the original statement focused on the need to prevent the manipulation of historical narratives for political purposes, particularly in the context of geopolitical tensions and the role of historical memory in shaping national identities.
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Further investigation reveals that the phrase ‘regressive historical trends’ is not a commonly used term in Chinese official discourse. It appears to be a paraphrased or misinterpreted version of the original message, likely crafted to align with pre-existing narratives about China’s influence over historical narratives. No evidence of coordinated disinformation campaigns or AI-generated content has been found in this particular instance. However, the selective quotation and lack of context in the viral post suggest a potential case of misleading information, possibly driven by ideological bias rather than deliberate deception.
Reuters itself has not issued any correction or clarification regarding the specific claim in question. However, the original article does not support the exact phrasing used in the viral post. This discrepancy raises concerns about whether the claim is an example of misinformation—possibly due to a misunderstanding or misattribution—or if it was intentionally altered to serve a particular agenda.
The Verdict
The claim that the Chinese Defence Minister urged nations to curb ‘regressive historical trends’ is misleading. While General Li Shangfu did address the issue of historical narratives in the context of regional security, the specific wording attributed to him in the viral post is not supported by the original source. The phrase ‘regressive historical trends’ is not part of the official record and appears to be a paraphrase or misinterpretation of his actual remarks.
Given the lack of direct evidence supporting the exact wording used in the viral post, and the absence of clear intent to deceive, this claim falls under the category of MISLEADING. It is not a deliberate disinformation campaign, but it is an inaccurate representation of the original statement, which could contribute to public confusion or reinforce existing biases.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
