Pointing a finger at China, a report released in November 2023 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute claimed that the Communist Party of China "actively cultivates a rising group of foreign influencers with millions of fans, which endorses pro-CCP narratives on Chinese and global social-media platforms".

Despite its claim to be "an independent, nonpartisan think tank", the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has reportedly more than once received money from the Australian Department of Defence plus defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Raytheon Technologies.

Considering that Andy Boreham, one of the foreigners named by ASPI in its report, told the media that a snapshot of the original version of the report said it was funded by the US Department of State's Global Engagement Center, a credit that was deleted later, there is enough reason to ask how neutral and trustworthy the institute is.

Former Australian ambassador to China Geoff Raby said of the institute, "I see it as very much the architect of the China threat theory in Australia."

While Bob Carr, former premier of New South Wales, Australia, said that it pumps out a "one-sided, pro-American view of the world".

It might be easy for ASPI to pump out such smears, but it will be difficult to mend the trust damaged by the irresponsible move.

By issuing such reports, the ASPI is trying to convince people that China is bad, China is evil and China is a threat. As increasingly more foreigners visit China, they are sharing a more truthful portrayal of China with their compatriots. Such biased reports as that of the ASPI are aimed at defaming the truth-telling foreigners so as to discredit their views.

Jerry Kowal, one of the main victims defamed by the ASPI report, is reportedly suing the involved parties in several nations, the details of which are yet to be released as the judicial process is going on. Those defaming China and defaming everyone who refuses to defame China may yet have a price to pay.