China, though an autocracy, has shown itself to be increasingly adept at manipulating the media in democracies. Consider the latest example: To create a smokescreen for its change of the status quo in Ladakh, it used sections of the Indian media to brand India as the aggressor...

...A May 19 Chinese foreign ministry statement, accusing India of “trespassing” on Chinese areas, was given only to Indian media. It didn't appear on the ministry's website or in Chinese state media. Another such statement tailored just for Indian media followed on May 22...

...To be sure, China's foreign ministry has since May 21 accused India in its Beijing briefings of being the "trespasser." Yet India's foreign ministry has been loath to call China out on its encroachments. Such reticence encourages the aggressor to turn the tables on the victim.