Chinese academic launches foreign affairs test to combat social media misinformation

Yan Xuetong, a prominent Chinese political scientist, is combating what he describes as a superficial understanding of international relations. He has launched an annual exam, the International Relations Basic Knowledge Proficiency Test, to encourage the public to engage more deeply with foreign affairs. The fourth edition of this 60-minute, closed-book test took place on July 5 in Beijing.

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With the rise of short videos on social media, misleading narratives about international relations have become increasingly severe.

Yan, who is also the honorary president of Tsinghua University’s Institute of International Relations, expressed concern over the proliferation of misleading narratives on social media. He noted that while Chinese authorities maintain strict online content scrutiny, international affairs discussions have comparatively looser controls. This allows content creators to generate traffic by sensationalizing global events and diplomatic issues.

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In some disciplines at Tsinghua University, teaching starts from zero – introducing students to what they don’t know.

"In some disciplines at Tsinghua University, teaching starts from zero – introducing students to what they don’t know," Yan said, drawing a parallel to his mission. He believes serious global conflicts are being trivialized into mere "entertainment" by the rise of short videos and viral commentary, prompting his initiative to foster a more informed public discourse.

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In some disciplines at Tsinghua University, teaching starts from zero – introducing students to what they don’t know.