Chinese Propaganda: The US Military Is Making Master Chief Armor; Me: Awesome!

from the fake-it-until-you-make-it dept

Fri, Nov 1st 2013 5:28pm — Timothy Geigner

For some reason, the propaganda machines of the Far East appear to operating as though their singular mission was to make me, personally, laugh myself to death. I admit this is an enticing military strategy, but so far the laughter hasn't led to death just yet. That said, I appreciate it when, for instance, North Korea does Photoshop so poorly that it ends up looking like the world's most boring Warhol painting.

But there's an arms race for everything, apparently, including in the arena of doing propaganda hilariously wrong. That seems to be the only explanation for why China's state media would up the nerd-quotient in their attempts by making it clear the United States military is pumping out new armor identical to that of Halo's Master Chief.

The program was New Defence Observations, a military show (read: propaganda), on Channel 7. On the October 19 episode, which is recently causing a stir in China, a segment talked about the "smart amour." The program compared the new U.S. military tech to Iron Man, using an image from Iron Man 3. In the upper corner, it clearly says, "movie image" (电影剧照). Then, the show flashes to the image below:

Yeah, that's The Chief, alright. What the report called "U.S. Military Concept Armour" is actually a promotional shot from the fan-made Halo film, 405th, which I'm at least somewhat certain has not been contracted by the U.S. government to do anything at all. That said, this report raises several questions. What good does China telling its own citizens that America has kick-ass new space-marine armor do? You'd think it'd just scare the hell out of its citizens and instill in them the belief that their own military was behind the space-marine-ing times.

Also, why the hell doesn't the U.S. military have this awesome armor yet? The Covenant might be just around the corner, you fools!

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: china, iron man, master chief, propaganda

31 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2013 @ 5:44pm

When you want to crank up military research and throw money at it, most often that means a tax increase of some sort so they can throw money at it. If you can get the citizens willing to be taxed more to pay for it, hey you're on easy street.

This is propaganda to convince their own people they need to pony up more money.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mudlock (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 5:48pm

The important thing to understand, is that XBox penetration is SO LOW in China that no one in charge over there even recognizes the Chief.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2013 @ 5:53pm

I have quite a few friends in China and they all share one thing in common.

They don't trust anything that comes from the government.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2013 @ 6:05pm

They don't trust anything that comes from the government.

Given what's been in MSM I think I understand their reluctance.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
saulgoode (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 6:13pm

They don't trust anything that comes from the government."
So not much different than the U.S.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
velox (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 6:54pm

Re:
Yes. Totally agree with this.

It looks like a tiny version of the "Missile Gap" propaganda promulgated by Jack Kennedy's supporters during the Cold War.
Here's manipulation of the public through news media releases of "classified intelligence" was done in 1959:
1) Claim the Russians have 1500 ICBMs
2) Claim the US is dangerously behind in the arms race because we only have 130 ICBMs.
3) Make sure no one finds out that the true number of ICBMs Russia has at the time is 4.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Internet Zen Master (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 6:55pm

I facepalmed so hard
Damn it China.

Stop trying to outdo North Korea. Don't you want to be a world superpower someday right?

Side Note: I would high-tail it to the nearest recruiting station if they ever made Master Chief style armor the standard combat gear. Hell, I'd settle for some good old ODST gear...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Loki, 1 Nov 2013 @ 7:19pm

Re:
So basically it's the same as the US.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2013 @ 7:46pm

Re: I facepalmed so hard
China already is a world super power....Where have you been for the last 10 years?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2013 @ 8:24pm

maybe a bit of psych warfare objective get usa to engage in expensive research, break us economy, and if the research bears fruit, rely on good old fashioned spying to get secrets.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Andrew F (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 8:29pm

Also, why the hell doesn't the U.S. military have this awesome armor yet?

In the off chance you're actually curious, the biggest barrier to making this happen is a power source.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Internet Zen Master (profile), 1 Nov 2013 @ 11:09pm

Re: Re: I facepalmed so hard
I know that.

Let me rephrase:

World's LEADING superpower.

Last I checked most of the world still tends to turn to the US first for help when shit hits the fan, not China.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2013 @ 12:16am

Re:
There are things that are universal.

Distrust for ones own government is one.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2013 @ 12:21am

One day maybe everyone will be walking down the street inside something like that, not only for security but to have a controlled environment and privacy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mdpopescu (profile), 2 Nov 2013 @ 2:26am

Re: Re:
I grew up in a communist country (Romania), and I have the same experience: nobody believed the government. When, after 1990, we started getting information from the west, I was shocked to discover that Americans DO believe their government's propaganda. I have yet to personally meet one who doesn't. (Yes, I read blogs from people who clearly don't, but I haven't yet met one in real life.)

Hell - anecdote time. My former boss emigrated to the US from Ukraine (then the Soviet Union) when he was six. I asked him "you're Russian, how the hell can you trust the government?". He said the US government was different. What can you say to that?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
edinjapan (profile), 2 Nov 2013 @ 3:58am

This is what happens if you don't believe
In the PRC you MUST believe everything the government tells you or else you'll end uplike this kid http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2483313/Chinese-boy-commits-suicide-teachers-orders.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2013 @ 5:44am

Damn they may have figured out our military strategy of training all our kids on the secret remote robotic drone troop operations.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
anonymouse, 2 Nov 2013 @ 12:49pm

Why so much Anger in article?
Seriously why is the author so upset about this, i can feel the anger seething through his comments...
Are the Chines on the right track with this article they promoted, in promoting the idea that American soldiers have advanced weaponry, will it encourage weapons manufacturers to develop the next generation of sci-fi weaponry.

The US has proven beyond any doubt they are unable to keep their secrets secret, we hear of advanced stealth fighters copied down to a hole that was drilled incorrectly in the air frame of the first fully function aircraft.

I am wondering if the Chinese might not have access to some details of this advanced technology, maybe the US has developed it but does not want to spend the money outfitting anyone with it, damn even giving the men on the ground the most basic tech seems to be a problem for the military.I have heard many stories of Soldiers buying privately things the military do not supply or where the quality of what they do supply is so inferior that it is a threat to lives using it.

I would not be surprised in the near future if Soldiers were buying their own weapons and ammunition or weapons that can use the military ammunition just so they have rifles or pistols that they know is not inferior, and prone to jamming.

I wonder if they are maybe worried that China will be developing these advanced weapons now as they see them as a threat so America will have to invest in developing them and actually outfitting their troops with them.

Or maybe this is a political game to encourage more investment of taxpayers money with a few trillion demanded to keep up with the big Chinese threat the US military seems to see over every hill.

Other than my little rant, i really would like to know why the author is so crazy about this, crazier than anyone has the right to be actually.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Declan OReilly, 2 Nov 2013 @ 1:05pm

Masterchief armor
Any chance we could be a bit cheeky and agree that , yes we do have the armor, the marine corp is currently evaluating it, but we really dont see what all the fuss is about, its made in China.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Nov 2013 @ 6:24pm

I'm sure the Chinese are already onto the silly propagada. Got to feel bad for those that aren't though they must think America has created some space armor.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
toyotabedzrock (profile), 2 Nov 2013 @ 6:57pm

Terror
They do it for the same reason US politicians run around screaming "Terrorist" all day.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous, 2 Nov 2013 @ 7:21pm

Since nobody's posted "Did anyone else read that as Master Chef armor?" yet, I figured I might as well.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
That One Guy (profile), 2 Nov 2013 @ 8:10pm

Re: Why so much Anger in article?
Okay, I've got to ask, what article did you just read? This article was in no way 'angry' or anything of the sort, but more 'you can't be serious' in a humorous way, due to the whole 'Chinese attempt to employ fan-film footage in propaganda attempt'.

As for 'this advanced technology', it's armor from a fictional character, one from a video game, something you'd know had you read the article, so I don't think there's any worry about China getting their hands on the schematics for it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Nov 2013 @ 12:36am

Re: Re: Re:
I offer a handkerchief, for the future painful tears of bitter disappointment awaiting ahead.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Robert, 3 Nov 2013 @ 7:13pm

The truth is the US military Industrial complex is working triple time creating super awesomely expensive armour for soldiers in combat.
Normally they do not consider it cost effective to protect soldiers, as they are readily replaceable by ensuring the minimum wage is a working in poverty wage and the only way out for many is serving in the military.
However the US military industrial complex reviewed that fiscal policy when they figured out that by providing super expensive somewhat ineffective armour, that they can generate at least $100,000 dollars profit each time a soldier gets severely injured or killed as the armour is non-repairable and requires full replacement.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ninja (profile), 4 Nov 2013 @ 1:13am

Re:
Yeah, I was already thinking it wasn't suited to work in the Kitchen. And Discovery Home and Health.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mason Wheeler (profile), 4 Nov 2013 @ 10:01am

Re: Re:
We cannot afford a mineshaft gap!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
scottan, 5 Nov 2013 @ 3:11pm

Yup, China is so far off that today it was announced that the top Naval Officer in the spec ops command wants a suit similar to the Ironman suit within a year.

So, how funny is it that China knew this already?

Not as funny as it was a couple of days ago.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Nov 2013 @ 11:57pm

Re: Re: Re: I facepalmed so hard
That's because the USA is better at propaganda than China. But damnit, china is LEARNING. Slowly.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Master chief, 3 Apr 2014 @ 7:23am

Me and my new armor
;) Lol Only reason is that it would cost way to much. the military is a company and war is a business. I can't even get dragon skin body armor and people are asking why I'm not walking around in master chief armor lol I'm just a number to the military, they look at cost of training, intake of food and cost of maintenance, nothing more. I'm a worker bee for the machine...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Apr 2014 @ 7:29am

Response to: Robert on Nov 3rd, 2013 @ 7:13pm
Not true. 15 years after I'm out, boots on the ground will still have the same body armor on. except the 3 or 4 generals that wouldn't give back the dragon skin that was given to them lol
[ link to this | view in thread ]