This article is part two in a three-part series on how international powers are seizing the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy as an opportunity to increase their influence over Europe.

The situation in Italy, one of the countries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, is the perfect opportunity for foreign actors to expand their influence, including through the spread of propaganda. Previously, the DFRLab published a report on Russian disinformation targeting Italy and pro-Russian narratives circulating in the Italian and Russian media environment amplified through social media. Another foreign actor — China — has applied a similar playbook to advance its own interests with regard to Italy.

China’s strategy in Italy resembles a traditional influence operation, with sustained lobbying of the Italian government — enabled by the populist Five Star Movement — aimed at establishing economic agreements and long-term relations. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy, China has intensified the amplification of narratives that depict it as a valuable ally and friend, even resorting to artificial amplification techniques learned from other foreign actors — including Russia.

China’s medical aid to Italy to fight COVID-19 was matched by a carefully designed propaganda strategy pushed through official channels, including state media and social media accounts of government representatives. On March 11, the Chinese Embassy in Rome posted from its official account a sympathetic tweet in support of Italy using the hashtag #ForzaCinaeItalia (translated to: #GoChinaAndItaly). According to data from social listening tool Meltwater Explore, content containing that hashtag gained over 60,000,000 impressions on Twitter since March 11.