Beijing Turns to Soft Power as Washington Expands Central Asia Ties

China is responding to a successful US push to raise its trade profile in Central Asia by launching a far-reaching information campaign to sway hearts and minds in Central Asia’s most populous state.  In late October and early November, CGTN, China’s international broadcaster operated by the Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department, sponsored an unprecedented information campaign touting the PRC’s expansive ties with Uzbekistan. The PR blitz included roughly 70 articles and videos published in the Uzbek and Russian…