Tsinghua University scholar Yan Xuetong held the fourth edition of the International Relations Basic Knowledge Proficiency Test on July 5 in Beijing to help the public avoid misleading social media narratives.
The test took place at the Liaoning International Hotel in the capital and lasted 60 minutes. Yan Xuetong said that with the rise of short videos on social media, misleading narratives about international relations have become increasingly severe.
He noted that in some disciplines at Tsinghua University, teaching starts from zero by introducing students to what they do not know. He described public understanding in the field as at a “negative one” level.
Chinese authorities maintain strict scrutiny over online content, but controls in international affairs are comparatively looser, giving creators more room to generate traffic from diplomatic issues.