A couple of days ago, we discussed Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman’s, Maria Zakharova, comments about China and Russia combining potentials if threatened.  According to Reuters, she also said Russia and China had a strategic partnership that was not aggressive in its intent and that Sino-Russo “relations are not directed against third countries… this is not an initiative to target other countries.”

Asking Zakharova questions makes the CPC think, and rethink and, we hope, doubt its positions.  Of great benefit to US interests, posing questions to Russian representatives gives China room and time to consider its positions.

Environments, like press conferences, also spread logical dissections of platforms.

So, asking spokeswomen like Zakharova to address China’s position on how Ukraine is not a “third country” and how war on Ukraine is “not aggressive” may yield anticipated answers.  Significantly, international media and state observers, even state censors, will spot inconsistencies.  Contradictions can help drive change.

US administrations can prepare for these public “influence operations” but have shown little awareness of the important opportunities they miss by not showing up prepared to act.