After Trump’s tariffs, “Fake Information”, the virus battlefield in China and Indonesia

Indonesia’s digital public sphere is flooded with the spread of viral pro-China disinformation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. From the stories of the Prophet’s tombs below the Great Wall to China’s false claims of violating Israel’s Gaza blockade, these narratives spark debate, shaping emotions and disturbing questions raised, even if the answers remain elusive.

Although no direct link to Beijing or tariffs have been confirmed, the timing and scope of these stories deserve close attention.

The first wave centered on provocative archaeological propositions: the discovery of the tomb of the respected prophet Zulkivli under the Great Wall. YouTube short featured the story and quickly gained 2.8 million views. Its appeal blends religious symbolism, cultural mysticism and spiritual connections to China that resonate with many Indonesian Muslims.

The faithful and skeptical comments have attracted attention, and some say in the often exaggerated Hadith: “Even seeking knowledge in China. Others marked the reappearance of the story, noting that it has been circulated online in 2022.

Doubt: Why trend again in 2025? Is it intentional to recycle affecting public opinion?

As the story of the grave gains momentum, another narrative emerges, this time geopolitically open. Social media reports said China has broken down due to Israel’s military blockade on Gaza and provided humanitarian assistance alone. A popular Instagram post even described China as the only country that was enough to challenge Israeli control and provide assistance directly to the Palestinians.

These posts are persuasive and powerful, including images of trucks, soldiers and parachutes that suggest a mission of justice. The timing is convincing: Israel has closed the Gaza border since March 2, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In Indonesia, where pro-Palestinian sentiment is deeply rooted, China’s idea of ​​being a bold and compassionate actor resonates.

But fact checkers in Tempo and other media revealed the truth. Narrative is a fabrication. The videos are stitched together from unrelated clips: old footage from 2024 aid delivery, outdoor activities and international airborne involving the United States, Indonesia and European countries. Despite China’s commitment to aid, it was delivered through Jordan, not through a violation of the lockdown.

Despite these corrections, the damage has been caused. These narratives position China as the spiritual companion of Muslims and also a moral alternative to the West – bold, kind and unafraid of confrontation. In the process, they also cleverly shifted their attention from China’s economic entanglement to Trump’s tariffs.

This brings us back to a bigger question: is it just a coincidence?

It is too early to assert that Beijing is behind this false information. There is no forensic trail, no leaks, and no confirmed evidence of state sponsorship. But the narrative resonance, the reuse of old content and their consistency with geopolitical tensions is more than just random viral noise. Whether driven by nationalists, click farms or secret actors, the effect is the same: distraction, seduction and division.

It is also crucial to understand the unique and fertile foundations in which these stories take root. Indonesia is particularly vulnerable. Religion, politics, and popular culture online are intertwined with weak regulations, making false information a structural feature of the landscape.

Global South, Global Model

This is important because Indonesia is not an isolated situation. The dynamics unfold here – foreign policy narratives and cultural identity, weaponization of myths, and the speed of virus deception – echo the pattern of the entire global South. With China’s soft power expanding and Western influence changing, the struggle for public opinion is not carried out in official press releases, but on platforms such as Tiktok, YouTube Shorts and WhatsApp.

What’s going on in Indonesia is not an abnormality. Here is a preview of how to compete for geopolitical stories in the post-real world. Tariffs may have triggered this moment, but the real competition is aimed at the mind and is initiated through symbolism and emotion rather than statistics.

We should not overreact. Not every virus column is part of the conspiracy. But we shouldn’t fire them either. Thinking of these stories as merely strange stories can ignore the strategic vacuum they fill and the damage they can cause. In this world, the lines between news and myth continue to blur, alertness, digital literacy, and new commitments to transparency are our best defenses.

We may not yet know who is behind these stories. But we do know what is endangered: not only the facts behind the Prophet’s grave or the aid to Gaza, but the credibility of the public sphere itself. This is probably the most critical battlefield for all in the long shadow of trade wars and power transfer.((Nicolette Cavallaro Edited this article)

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of fair observers.