Constructing its own reality: the CCPs agenda for the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill movement

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has always been concerned that internal social instability would affect its legitimacy, so it has used censorship and propaganda to control the information flow to reduce external influences. This study uses the analysis of agenda building by CCTV and People's Daily on Chinese social media in relation to the anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong. It represents one example of the CCP's use of state media to manipulate facts and public opinion, send signals to target audiences, and mobilise domestic sympathisers as well as interest groups overseas. It shows that the state media were able to link the demonstrations with the issue of Hong Kong's secession from China and foreign infiltration. As a consequence, citizens on the mainland have grown reluctant to talk about or even try to understand the movement.