Information warfare is often understood as the dissemination of falsehoods intended to portray an adversary as weak, wrong, or wicked. But some of the most consequential information contests today are not simply over facts; they are battles over interpretation. Who started the crisis? Who won the battle? What is the Chinese translation of an agreed English word? Winning that contest can generate tangible strategic returns.

When President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Sept. 24, the United States and China agreed to build a constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness, and “reciprocity,” according to a White House fact sheet.