Mind games amplified- Merging Chinese manipulation tactics with advanced tech

Manipulation tactics are often aimed at coercive or unethical behavior driven by the goal of exploiting or to say controlling another for your own personal gain. In the realm of international relations, it is one of the core strategies of China to emerge as a global superpower through an assertive and aggressive push for an international influence. These tactics are a toolkit to instill fear, propagate disinformation, and incite unrest, which encompasses all serving a larger strategy of subtly embedding influence and advancing the pursuit of global dominance.

Manipulation as a strategy is ingrained in the framework of cognitive warfare, where researchers have observed how manipulation tactics can directly coerce individual behavior , either explicitly or through the subtle influence of one’s environment and social ecology. This form of influence operates as an inside-out manipulation process and is far from a newfangled tactic, rather, it draws on long-standing psychological and informational techniques. This has its relative stances with distraction, deception , illusion.This isn’t a new strategy of conflict, but one that has long been entrenched in China’s strategic thinking to keep human psychology with new and advanced technology enhanced and put forth together to build a key narrative to disrupt the states.

Strategic deployment on advanced technologies

The strategy behind manipulation often involves tweaked identities and distorted realities, fueling the spread of false narratives. At the core of this approach lies the deliberate and strategic use of advanced technologies. It includes AI-generated content to cyber-enabled psychological operations that enable seamless and scalable influence. In this context, China presents a compelling case, where manipulation tactics appear intricately linked with its broader strategy of military modernization and cognitive domain dominance. Rather than relying solely on traditional force, China is leveraging these tools as a means to accelerate its rise in the global power hierarchy, subtly reshaping perceptions and undermining adversaries from within. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been ahead of the strategic manipulation that fell upon Taiwan as a testing ground. The state affiliated media has been instrumental in shaping this discourse, particularly as technology has evolved rapidly and embedded itself deeper into the fabric of influence.The propaganda of disseminating information are based on false narratives chased through print, television and social media. The platforms that carry the leverage are mostly tiktok, and Wechat. It has tampered with great biases towards China’s views and perspective. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has amplified manipulation tactics, particularly through deepfakes, AI-generated fake videos fueling rapid misinformation. China has leveraged such tools to spread false images and narratives on social media, influencing public opinion and even political discourse.

New eruption in the tech tactics

AI-powered deepfakes have intensified manipulation tactics, with China using fake visuals to spread misinformation and influence public discourse.These advanced sophisticated tools are making it harder than ever to tell the truth from false narratives, which only amplifies the power of such tactics. Among these fast moving technologies, Brain-Machine Interface (BMI), which links the human brain to external devices, is making remarkable progress. While the United States has led the way with Neuralink, China is now emerging as a strong second mover, rapidly advancing its own BMI initiatives and pushing the boundaries of what this technology can achieve. This milestone reflects not just an advance in BMI technology, but also a story of resilience. China’s first BMI trial participant is a person who lost all four limbs in a devastating electrical accident 13 years ago, when he was just 24. In March this year, he received a Brain-Machine Interface implant, and for the first time in over a decade, he could control a device using only his thoughts.

Since the implantation on March 25th, 2025, he has played chess, tried racing games, and interacted with programs he had been unable to experience for years. What is remarkable is that he’s had no side effects so far according to the reports, a testament to how technology, when applied thoughtfully, can restore not just function but hope. While the technology holds promise for medical use, particularly in aiding patients with severe disabilities, it also raises critical concerns. In the context of rising global tensions, such advancements could be repurposed as a strategic tool within China’s military defense operations, potentially serving manipulative objectives during conflict. China is rapidly exploiting advanced technologies to reinforce its manipulation tactics, using tools like AI and BMI to influence perception, control narratives, and enhance strategic dominance.

While BMI is typically known as an invasive approach, non-invasive alternatives, such as EEG-based headsets, offer safer, more scalable applications, though with reduced signal clarity. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, these advancements are not only being pursued by research labs in China, but also by defense institutions and industrial firms. This clearly indicates that such developments are far more than scientific experiments, they represent a significant pillar of China’s broader vision for AI-driven human enhancement and serve as a critical tool within its manipulation strategy.To conclude, this underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance among nations that view China as a strategic rival. As its technological advancements bridge the line between innovation for the greater good and instruments of influence or conflict, the global community must remain alert to both their promises and their perils.