CCP Scholar: China Should Offer Special Training to Win the Public Opinion War with the West 中共學者支招：如何贏得與西方的輿論戰？

(Jenifer’s note: Below is the full English translation of the speech by Zheng Roulin, Researcher, Institute of China Studies, Fudan University, Former France correspondent of Wen Wei Po published by Guan Video on April 22, 2021 . Zheng Ruolin stressed in the video that in order to win the media/public opinion war with the West, the CCP must use state power to train professionals who will learn to defend the CCP in a politically correct way in Western societies. He also acknowledges and emphasizes that "a small rebuke is a big help" and that “it is surprisingly effective in practical application”.

The original title of his speech is “How to Prevent Patriotic Media Professionals from Being ‘Silent Lambs Abroad When Western Public Opinion Is Overwhelmingly One-sided?” )

（曾錚注：以下是中共復旦大學中國研究院研究員 、《文匯報》前駐法記者郑若麟在2021年4月22日《觀視頻》中所做演講的文字稿及英文翻譯。郑若麟在視頻中強調，在贏得與西方的媒體戰，中共必須用國家力量培訓專業人才，這些人必須學會用在西方社會政治正確的方式爲中共進行辯護。他也同時承認和強調了“小罵大幫忙”“效能驚人”。原中文視頻題爲《 西方舆论一边倒，如何让爱国媒体人在国外不做“沉默的羔羊”？》）

Hello, World!

Greetings, viewers of Guan Video.

觀視頻的網友們，大家好。

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about “Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy ”. One of the themes is that the Chinese media, which should be vocal, has been silent in response to the West's all-out attack on us. Our diplomats had to come forward and speak out. As a result, others describe this as “Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy”.

最近關於戰狼外交的討論多了起來，其中的一個主題，就是我們本來應該發聲的中國媒體，在應對西方對我們的全方位輿論攻擊中，卻默默無聲，導致我們的外交不得不站出來發聲，於是被形容爲“戰狼外交”。

Now the question is, why our media are silent (overseas)? This is a field in which I seem to have some expertise, because I have spoken out, and loudly, and been heard by some Western media.

問題就來了，為什麼我們的媒體（在國外）“默默無言”？在這個領域，我似乎有著一些特殊的發言權，因為我曾經發過聲，而且大聲地發過聲，而且也被一部分西方輿論聽到了。

It was around 2007-2008, before and after the Beijing Olympics, and before my return to China, before 2013, when I was more vocal in the French media. I even eventually published a book about China, called "The Chinese People Just Like You" (Les Chinois sont des hommes comes les autres). In a sense, I could even say that I had taken the place of some anti-Chinese Sinologists in the French media.

大約是在2007至2008年，北京奧運前後，後來到我回國，2013年之前，我在法國媒體上露面發聲比較多，甚至最後還出版了一本談中國的書，《與你一樣的中國人》，從某種意義上，我甚至可以說，當時已經取代了一部分反華漢學家在法國媒體上談論中國的位置。

But after I returned home, no one continued to speak for China in the French media after me. So it seemed like all that I had done at that time just disappeared. Today I believe it is necessary to tell my story, to see why our media is not involving itself in this fierce international public opinion war. What on earth is the problem?

但在我任滿回國後，沒有人繼續在我之後，在法國媒體上爲中國發聲，以至於我當時所做的所有這一切都煙消雲散了。今天我相信有必要將我的故事來說一說，從中來看一看，我們的媒體置身這場尖銳的國際輿論戰之外，究竟問題在哪裏？

Let me first briefly recall how I spoke out in the French media, and then explore how our media should respond to the West.

我先簡單的回溯一下，當時我是如何在法國媒體上發聲的，然後再來探討我們的媒體，應該如何回應西方的問題。

It was March 14, 2008, the day of the riots in Tibet, and I was on a flight back to France, just after my vacation. It was clear to me from that moment that the riots had a purpose and were closely linked to the Beijing Olympics. What I did not expect, of course, was that I would be directly involve in this sacred fight to defend the torch of the Beijing Olympics.

那是2008年3月14，西藏發生騷亂的當天，我正在返回法國的飛機上，正好休假結束。當時就感覺到，這場騷亂顯然是有目的而來，與北京奧運密切相關。但我當然沒有想到的是，會直接捲入這場捍衛北京奧運火炬的神聖鬥爭之中。

Soon after I arrived in Paris, I was approached by TV5 Monde, a French international television station, which invited me to participate in a Sunday show on Tibetan issues. This television station was a joint venture of many French-speaking countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, and even Quebec, Canada, to broadcast to French-speaking regions of the world. I was invited to this program called "Kiosque". The host was a famous journalist, Philippe Dessaint. For every show he invited four journalists from all over the world to discuss a topic. It was one of the first one-hour live TV debates I participated in.

我到巴黎後，很快法國一家國際電視台，TV5 Monde, 法國世界五台就來找我，邀請我參加他們每週日播出的一檔專欄節目，來討論西藏問題。這家電視臺是世界多個法語國家，法國、比利時、瑞士等國家，甚至包括加拿大魁北克地區，等等，共同出資組建的，向全世界法語地區播放的一個電視台。邀請我的這檔節目，名字叫《報亭Kiosque》，主持人是著名的記者，飛利浦·戴森（Philippe Dessaint）, 每期邀請四位世界各國的記者，來討論一個主題。這是我大致最早參加的一個長達一個小時的現場直播的電視辯論。

At that time, from the host to the three other journalists, they all took a firm stand against China and launched an attack on China. "Free Tibet" was their principled position, while I defended China alone.

當時從主持人到其他三位各國記者，都站在堅定地反對中國的立場上，向中國發起輿論攻擊，“自由西藏”基本上是他們的原則立場，而我則孤軍奮戰爲中國辯護。

At that time, our Ambassador in France, Mr. Kong Quan, personally sent me a text message after the show finished, expressing his appreciation for my performance and full support for my efforts. This started the prelude to my speaking out for China in France.

當時我國常駐法國大使孔泉在我的節目結束後，親自發了一條短信給我，對我的表現表示讚賞，對我的努力表示全力支持，由此拉開了我在法國爲中國發聲的序曲。

Later on, on the French Internet and brochures introducing TV5 Monde and its host Dessaint, my name was included as the voice of a Chinese journalist, in an attempt to prove that the station's sources of thought were very broad.

之後在法國介紹世界電視五臺和主持人戴森的網絡和宣傳手冊上，都會把我的名字放上去，作爲中國記者的聲音來推薦，試圖證明這家電視臺的思想來源是非常廣闊的。

After that, other TV stations started to invite me to participate in their programs after they saw my participation in the TV5 Monde.

此後其他電視臺看到了我在世界五臺的發聲後，也開始來邀請我參加他們的節目。

It should be mentioned that there were very few voices for China in the French mainstream media at that time, and I was one of the very few.

應該提一句的是，當時在法國主流媒體上鮮有爲中國發聲的，我是非常少數中的少數。

It is understandable that no French people were speaking out for China. After all, the number of French people who understand China is very small. But why are many Chinese in France silent?

沒有法國人爲中國發聲，我們可以理解，畢竟了解中國的法國人是少數。但是爲什麼在法國的很多中國人也默不作聲呢？

We have more than 50 Chinese journalists in France, plus other Chinese media, there are at least a hundred Chinese who can express themselves smoothly and fluently in French, why don't they speak up?

我們中國常駐法國的記者就有五十多名，再加上其他中文媒體，少說也有上百名能夠順利地、流利地用法語表達的中國人，爲什麼他們也不發聲呢？

To date, there are many reasons, but I think the following are the most fundamental.

到今天爲止，原因肯定是多方面的，但我認爲以下幾點最爲根本：

First of all, journalists and scholars who speak out for China are not paid anything. They have only risks. You can imagine a Chinese journalist talking about how good China is in the French media, not only does he get no money, but he will be hunted, tortured and questioned by almost all other French media and journalists. Without a strong patriotic heart and strong mental capacity, it is indeed very difficult to persevere.

首先，一是爲中國發聲的記者學者，是沒有任何報酬的，相反只有風險。大家可以想象一下，一名中國記者在法國媒體上說中國如何如何好，不僅一分錢沒有，還要被其他幾乎所有法國媒體、記者們追問、拷問、質問。沒有強烈的愛國心和堅強的心理承受能力，確實很難堅持下去。

Secondly, Chinese journalists and scholars who speak out for China do not have the support of the state, except, of course, for those who work in professional foreign propaganda agencies. They have the support of the state.

二是為中國發聲的中國記者、學者，是沒有來自國家的支持的，當然，專業對外宣傳機構的人員除外，他們是有國家支持的。

For example, I was once the host of CCTV's French channel for a while.

比方說我也曾做過一陣主持人的中央電視臺法語頻道。

But ordinary scholars and journalists not only do not have support from the state, on the contrary, if you inadvertently make a wrong remark, you may be criticized, and I will not cite such examples.

但是普通學者、記者，不但沒有來自國家的支持，相反，如果你不慎說錯了一句話，你還有可能挨批，這樣的例子，我就不舉了。

Under this kind of circumstance, you can imagine why journalists and scholars often prefer to remain silent, because the risk is too great.

在這種背景下，大家可以想象一下，爲什麼記者、學者們，往往寧可選擇沉默，因爲風險太大。

Of course, this is not my style, I will be standing up and speaking out.

當然這不是我的風格，我是必須站出來說的。

Third, we need to understand that journalists and scholars who speak out for China need support, mainly in two areas.

三是我們要理解爲中國發聲的記者、學者，需要的支持，主要是在兩個方面。

On the one hand, they need professional training, and on the other hand, they need a certain degree of freedom.

一方面他們需要專業的培訓，另一方面他們需要一定的自由度。

Professional training means that they need to have a very good level of a foreign language to speak in foreign media. The ability to speak a foreign language needs to be cultivated and nurtured, from listening, understanding, expression, to vivid expression. It is not easy to have foreigners easily understand what you want to express.

專業培訓指的是他們在外國媒體上發聲，首先要有非常好的外語水平，外語是要培育的、培養的，從聽、理解到表達，生動的表達，讓外國人能夠輕鬆接受的表達，並不是一件容易的事。

On the other hand, they need training in specialized areas of knowledge, including, in particular, the knowledge, understanding and mastery of how to speak in a politically correct (Western) context, and only the state can afford such training.

另一方面則是，他們需要專業知識領域的培訓，其中特別包括，對如何在（西方）政治正確的背景下，進行發聲的認識、理解和掌握，只有國家能夠承擔這樣的培訓。

On the other hand, journalists and scholars who speak out for China need a certain degree of freedom. By "freedom" I mean, first of all, allowing them to have their own ways and means of expression, rather than having to express everything about China in the official tone, official style, and official terms.

另一方面，爲中國發聲的記者、學者需要一定的自由度。我這裏的“自由度”首先指的是讓他們有自己的表達方式、方法，而不是必須用官氣、官腔、官方用語，來表達我們中國的一切。

Secondly, they should be given the freedom to make mistakes, the freedom to say the wrong things, and the freedom to criticize to a certain extent.

其次，應該給他們犯錯誤的自由、說錯話的自由，以及在一定程度上批評的自由。

We all know the principle of "small cursing, big help", and it is surprisingly effective in practical application.

我們都知道“小罵大幫忙”的原理，在實際應用中更是效能驚人。

The question is whether we can tolerate a little bit of "scolding".

問題是我們能不能容忍“小罵”。

But, of course, the most important point, and the last one, is that we in the media ourselves must have a strong sense of service to our country, and the will and courage to speak out for our country in any context and under any circumstances.

當然最重要的一點，也是最後一點，則是我們媒體人自身，必須有強烈的報國之情，在任何背景下，任何情況下，都有爲國家發聲的意願和勇氣。

From the current point of view, this is exactly what is most lacking.

從目前看，這正是最爲缺乏的。

Therefore, in order for our media to speak out in this public opinion war between China and the West, and to take up the task and responsibility of confronting Western public opinion, the state must truly assume responsibility in many aspects and individuals must truly make selfless contributions.

所以要想我們的媒體，在這場中西輿論論點中發聲，承擔起與西方輿論對峙的任務和責任，國家要真正承擔起多方面的責任，個人要真正做出無私的奉獻。

When will this day come? We will have to wait and see.

這一天何時會到來，我們拭目以待。

4/22/2021

A screenshot from the video of Zheng’s speech showing the debate about the trade war between Fox Trish Regan and CGTN(China Global Television Network)’s Liu Xin on May 29, 2019. 郑若麟的視頻中，用了2019年5月29日央視記者劉欣與美國福克斯電視臺主持Trish Regan 就貿易戰進行辯論的畫面，表達要讓中共國記者學會在西方用政治正確的觀點爲中共進行辯護。