Event Report: C3S-MOP Two-Day Workshop on China’s Influence Operations in South Asia

By Annunthra Rangan, Senior Research Officer, C3S

The two-day workshop on China’s Influence Operations in South Asia was successfully conducted on February 9–10, 2026, bringing together students of media, journalism, and international relations for an intensive academic and simulation-based learning experience. The programme combined expert lectures, panel discussions, student paper presentations, and a live diplomatic simulation exercise titled The Diplomat, enabling participants to understand how influence operations, media ecosystems, technology platforms, and strategic narratives shape regional geopolitics.

The workshop was organised jointly by Chennai Centre for China Studies and M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, with the objective of building awareness about Chinese influence mechanisms across Asia, especially in media, digital infrastructure, education, religion, and information networks. The event aimed to help students critically examine propaganda channels, technology platforms, narrative control strategies, and policy responses available to regional states.

The programme opened with an inaugural session featuring welcome remarks by the Assistant Vice Principal of the host institution, followed by inaugural remarks from the Director General of C3S and a special address by the Head of the Department of Public Policy. The speakers collectively emphasised the growing importance of studying influence operations in the digital age and the need for analytical capacity among students to evaluate media narratives and geopolitical messaging. The inaugural session was followed by a short tea break before the technical sessions began.

Session I focused on setting the conceptual foundation. Speakers introduced the idea of influence operations, sharp power, digital propaganda, and narrative shaping. The session explained how state and state-linked actors use media networks, technology platforms, cultural diplomacy, educational partnerships, and information infrastructure to shape perceptions and policy environments beyond their borders. The discussion highlighted the growing sophistication of information tools, including data mining, social media campaigns, and AI-assisted content generation.

Session II examined China’s influence operations in South Asia in greater depth. Experts discussed Chinese engagement with regional media systems, digital diplomacy under connectivity initiatives, and comparative influence patterns in countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The talks explored how media partnerships, technology investments, and training programmes can create long-term narrative leverage and institutional familiarity. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A where students raised questions on media capture, regulatory gaps, and resilience strategies.

After lunch, Session III featured student paper presentations on themes of soft power, sharp power, religious diplomacy, media tourism, and cultural influence in South Asia. The presentations reflected strong research engagement and demonstrated the students’ ability to connect theory with regional case studies. Faculty evaluators noted the clarity of argument and diversity of perspectives presented.

Session IV introduced the simulation exercise The Diplomat, designed as a two-day immersive policy and media simulation. Participants were divided into country teams representing China, India, and Pakistan, each with assigned roles including Head of Government, Official Spokesperson, Information & Technology officials, and National Press Correspondent. An independent journalism corps functioned as an investigative and adversarial media body.

Day One of the simulation focused on positioning and narrative construction. Country teams presented their official stances on Chinese influence tools such as Confucius Institutes, media partnerships, technology platforms, and cultural diplomacy. The China team defended its activities as legitimate soft power and development cooperation, while the India team highlighted risks related to sovereignty, cyber security, and information manipulation. Media participants actively questioned delegates, challenged inconsistencies, and introduced pressure through live questioning.

Between the two days, teams completed a media production assignment. Each country group recorded a mock press conference video featuring official statements and breaking-news style briefings. A separate media design group produced a mock newspaper with headlines, editorials, and reports reflecting different national perspectives and biases.

Day Two began with a student panel on media influence in global geopolitics, focusing on narratives, power competition, and countermeasures. This was followed by the second phase of The Diplomat simulation. Newspapers were circulated and press conference videos screened, shaping the information environment for the next round of negotiations. Country teams then entered bilateral and trilateral diplomatic meetings to explore cooperative responses to influence operations, digital infrastructure risks, and media manipulation concerns.

Following each diplomatic engagement, teams issued formal press releases that were scrutinised by the journalism corps. The media group questioned loopholes, exposed contradictions, and demanded accountability in live press interactions. In the final phase, each country team submitted a policy recommendation document outlining national and regional strategies to address influence operations, regulatory gaps, and information security challenges. The China team responded to these proposals and defended its strategic interests throughout.

The workshop concluded with a valedictory session and formal closing remarks by the Vice Principal of M.O.P Vaishnav College, followed by a vote of thanks from the student organisers. Faculty and experts appreciated the high level of participation, analytical depth, and realism displayed during the simulation.

Based on policy coherence, realism of recommendations, media impact, and narrative effectiveness, the winning delegation of The Diplomat simulation was awarded to the India team represented by students from Loyola College. The team was recognised for producing the most structured and persuasive policy framework and for effectively managing media engagement under pressure.

Overall, the two-day workshop successfully blended academic instruction with experiential learning. It enabled participants to understand the complexity of influence operations, the power of media narratives, and the challenges of policy response in a contested information environment. The interactive format ensured that students not only learned the theory but also practiced diplomacy, media handling, negotiation, and strategic communication in real time.