China Addresses Rise of Online Pseudo-History Theories
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China Addresses Rise of Online Pseudo-History Theories
- A social media account affiliated with the Zhejiang provincial publicity department recently warned about the rise of "pseudo-historical" claims online, particularly those suggesting Western civilizations were "stolen" or fabricated.
- These theories, which deny Western history and claim key achievements originated in China, have been exacerbated by artificial intelligence, according to the Zhejiang agency in a post on Wednesday.
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Chinese authorities are expressing concern over the proliferation of “pseudo-history” conspiracy theories online, with a focus on claims that Western civilizations were either invented or had their achievements appropriated from China. A social media account linked to the Zhejiang provincial publicity department, “Zhejiang Propaganda,” issued a warning on Wednesday regarding the growing influence of these narratives.
These pseudo-historical claims, which often suggest figures like Aristotle never existed or that ancient Greek and Roman histories are fabrications, are seen as reflecting ignorance and fracturing social understanding. The agency also highlighted that the spread of such misinformation is being amplified by artificial intelligence.
The “Western Pseudohistory Theory” is a broad term encompassing various fringe theories, some of which assert that the histories of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome contain numerous fabrications. Some proponents have claimed that there was no European history before the 15th century, and that Western civilization fabricated its ancient histories by referencing Chinese culture. Specific examples include assertions that the Great Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza are modern fakes built with concrete, or that documents from Ancient Greece were fabricated during the Renaissance.
While these theories are largely dismissed by mainstream historians, they have gained traction in certain online circles, with some “scholars” and ultra-nationalists endorsing them. The origins of these theories can be traced back to the 2010s with works from Chinese scholars like He Xin and Huang Heqing, who argued that foreign history was overestimated and many achievements were copied from China. The number of videos promoting such ideas on platforms like Bilibili saw a rise in 2021 and became popular in 2022. The Chinese Communist Party has also been observed leveraging AI-generated content in broader influence operations and propaganda efforts.