Commentary To win over the hearts and minds abroad and at home, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses a variety of tools such as state media, complicit foreign media, self-criticism in the United States, and self-censorship in foreign countries. Through these powerful tools, fueled by social media, the CCP is able to take advantage of real or imagined shortcomings of Western powers, particularly the United States, to convince Americans and Chinese citizens alike, that Western democracy is failing and that the Chinese system is superior. The goal of CCP propaganda is to trumpet the benefits of the Chinese system, as well as the notion that living under the protection of the CCP is best. Chinese citizens need not yearn for Western freedoms or democracy, as they already enjoy a better life than the rest of the world. Left-leaning Westerners are led to believe that the West should learn from China, adopting …