A new study by Cardiff University, which claimed that a China-linked bot network played a key role in spreading disinformation during the US election, is of poor quality and a complete distortion of facts, displaying racial discrimination against Chinese people.

The study, from the Crime and Security Research Institute, allegedly discovered a network of more than 500 Twitter accounts which showed suspicious activities in the final seven days before the election.

A closer examination of the suspicious accounts posted in the study, however, finds they are nothing more than Chinese or Chinese-origin people ridiculing the conspiracy theories or rumors related to the election. The study just misunderstood the language. They should improve their level of Chinese language.

The bots mentioned in study also include Twitter accounts which retweeted stories in Chinese or in English from US mainstream media outlets which criticized Donald Trump, and accounts which liked posts of Chinese Foreign Ministry or China's well-known journalists lambasting Trump administration. The study bluntly claimed these accounts are involved in influence operation with the election.

Based on this logic, Chinese or people of Chinese origin should not criticize Donald Trump even when he makes mistakes, should not level such criticism against him, or speak out for China. Otherwise they will be labeled a Chinese bot. Isn't this covert racism against Chinese or Chinese-origin people?

The Crime and Security Research Institute is linked with various anti-China think tanks in the west. It, together with Australian Strategic Policy Institute and others, are founding members of a program called Countering Influence Operation under Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the two have cooperated in many fields.

William Burns, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has been named director of the CIA by US President Joe Biden.