The Chinese Funding of Activism: Designed for War

Political movements and cultural conflicts are shaping Western societies. Social media, mainstream media, and both the right and left sides of the political aisle are contributing to the current polarization. Linking activism to foreign influence can easily be dismissed as conspiracy theories. However, the following is based on official reports, public accessible intelligence sources, and thorough research. These sources confirm how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tirelessly seeks to inhibit social cohesion. This paper undertakes a quest that invites critical reflection not relying on preconceived notions.

According to the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (NDRE), China is no stranger to utilizing information tactics to create division. In a recent report, NDRE points to a specific case in which China promoted division between European countries and the USA through their conflicting stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict^[1].

Western corporations, cultural movements, and even governmental entities have become embedded with causes presented as crusades for social ​justice. Behind the protests and flags lies something far more strategic. What might seem as progress may in fact be a calculated attempt to create destabilization and societal collapse.

Sleeping Through the Drumbeat

Political polarization in the West is no longer just a token of indifference. It has evolved into cultural fragmentation that undermines cohesion. Identity-driven movements have gained enormous influence over the mainstream narrative, institutional behavior, and even science. Meanwhile, conservative movements are in fierce opposition. In the middle, heavy silence.

China and Russia have ramped up their operations to shape global perception. This has often been mislabeled as soft power instead of sharp power, despite being neither openly coercive nor unobtrusive.^[2] It is in fact unrestricted warfare^[3] masked as moral awakening. It exploits cultural fractures and amplifies division to weaken trust and sow chaos. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated that, “The Chinese government is employing tactics that seek to influence lawmakers and public opinion to achieve policies that are more favorable to China”.^[4] 

According to Peter Schweizer, China recognized Russia's success in the 2016 U.S. election. Convincing fake social media accounts such as that of the fictional BLM-activist Luisa Haynes were used. The tweets from such accounts were cited by major media outlets, and played both left- and right-leaning audiences to further polarization.^[5] Bret Schafer echoes Schweizer​`​​s​ claim noting that, “Black activists are, therefore, caught in a vice grip of deception, with Russian trolls working from within and without to undermine their interests”.^[6]

The Director General of MI5 painted a grim picture of Chinese actions by depicting, “Russia’s behaviour as ‘bursts of bad weather’ while noting ‘China is changing the climate’”.^[7] This signals a long-term threat with a far more insidious and lasting transformation.

A Digital Nightmare

TikTok is a widely used social media platform for sharing and creating videos. The Chinese government controls TikTok.^[8] Furthermore, a peer-reviewed study by the Network Contagion Research Institute at Rutgers University found that, “TikTok is suppressing anti-China content in order to diminish the reach of narratives critical of the CCP”.^[9] Why is this noteworthy? First of all, in the US alone there are 170 million users of TikTok.^[10] In Europe there are 200 million users.^[11] That leaves the CCP with a formidable opportunity to directly influence the minds of a great portion of the western population. How great their influence stretches cannot easily be measured.

The Australian AI-intelligence expert​, Paul Dabrowa, stated that TikTok, “has the capacity to create a user-specific profile of individuals` fears and anxieties, learning which stimuli are likely to trigger desired responses and behaviours. It could then utilize addictive principles and implement stimuli that compel young adults to spend hours scrolling on their phone, purchase products, or join political movements”.^[12] This complements the CCP toolbox in their overall strategy. Its existence should suffice to encourage Western lawmakers to take all necessary steps to stop the ongoing operation initiated by Beijing.

Agents of Harmony

Neville Roy Singham is an American businessman and billionaire residing in China. He is accused of supporting activist groups and messages that echo the positions of the CCP. In a letter from the U.S. House Oversight Committee to Singham, the committee asked for documents about his reported funding of far-left groups, support of riots, and him possibly acting as an agent for the CCP.^[13] Singham became radicalized from a young age, heavily influenced by Maoist ideology, and he considers China, Cuba and Hugo Chá​vez​’s Venezuela as model states.^[14]

Singham is married to the political activist Jodie Evans. Evans is an outspoken advocate for Communist China, and has publicly characterized the Uyghurs as terrorists and defended the Chinese persecution and mass detention of the group.^[15] CODEPINK is a feminist organization where Jodie Evans is a co-founder. The first thing that appears upon entering their website is the following banner, “China is Not Our Enemy”.^[16]

Peter Schweizer contends that Singham and Evans maintain a close relationship with the Qiao Collective. He also notes that the collective enjoys support from several of the leadership figures in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Among those ranks are members of Congress. Bernie Sanders is closely aligned with their goals and therefore considered an important ally.^[17] It remains to be seen whether the Qiao Collective receives any direct support from the DSA. However, according to the Tempest Collective many of the top DSA​´​s leadership did indeed attend the ‘China and the Left. A Socialist Forum’. Travis S. notably stated that, “Simultaneously, a current of pro-CPC opinions were gushing forth from the Qiao Collective-sponsored “China and the Left: A Socialist Forum.” Attendees included many of DSA’s top leadership”.^[18] Now, why are these links problematic?

Their own website states that the, “Qiao Collective is a diaspora Chinese media collective challenging U.S. aggression on China”.^[19] Moreover, Chinese legislation requires all Chinese citizens, including the diaspora, to cooperate with Chinese authorities.^[20] The statements posted on their website more than hints to this obligation. That such a collective may be endorsed and receive support from the political establishment in the USA should raise at least one eyebrow.

Debates, protests, and dissent are natural occurrences in a democracy. However, the line between protest and foreign influence has become very unclear. The West finds itself in a new era of geopolitical rivalry with China. The role of fellow travellers such as Singham demands a very uncomfortable question to be asked. Who shapes public opinion? 

The Sharp Power of Inclusion

The debate surrounding transgender rights and identity has caused controversy. These individuals are particularly vulnerable, and they have often been subjected to much prejudice. Genders are no longer solely being defined by biological traits, but also by personal identity and experience. Former assumptions of gender are being challenged. Teaching that sex is determined by chromosomes, can get educators in serious trouble.^[21] An award-winning university professor was fired for arguing against the transitioning of children.^[22] Tensions between those upholding a conventional scientific perception, and those pointing to individual identity and lived experiences, has created a public debate with little nuance. There are many deep rooted reasons why such a debate is so sensitive. Nonetheless, one reason might not be so obvious.

The Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai is linked to funding transgender initiatives.^[23] According to Peter Schweizer, Tsai´s foundation committed $220 million to the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. This included support for Boston Children’s Hospital’s Female Athlete Program and its inclusion of transgender female athletes. The same hospital was criticized for its gender affirming care. They offered mastectomies and vaginoplasties for adolescents.^[24]

Some might view this as supporting human rights, while others are questioning the nature of larger donations from foreign sources. Especially if the source is politically controlled by a strategic adversary. And, even more so if that adversary promotes the opposite within its own borders.^[25] More concerning is why multibillion Chinese firms with direct ties to the CCP wish to make large donations to social causes that only affect a small portion of the population, considering that those causes directly contradict CCP​'s domestic policy. In view of Maoist thought these questions can easily be answered. Upon threatening his father with committing suicide, Mao Zedong experienced that, “Old men like him didn't want to lose their sons. This is their weakness. I attacked their weak point, and I won!”.^[26] This mindset demonstrates an eerie strategy that seeks to exploit the vulnerable in an attempt to influence and divide.

The Select Committee on the CCP​ has stated in a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security that, “Alibaba serves as a critical enabler of the CCP’s digital surveillance and censorship apparatus”.^[27] The CCP has taken golden shares in multiple Chinese companies, including Alibaba, thereby granting the party exclusive rights.^[28] Thus, the CCP controls such companies.

China recognizes that the West'​s inherent inclination to include, and not hurt, can easily be exploited. They have mastered exploiting this to an extreme. They are successfully employing “sharp power”.^[29] The current polarization in the West has created political narratives that are difficult to question without risking condemnation from a chorus of outrage. This outcome aligns very well with Maoism. In a dispute between Mao and the former Chinese General Peng De-Huai the authors of ‘Mao: The Unknown Story’ noted that, “Peng was doomed by his own decency and decorum. Unlike Mao, he was shy about fighting for power for himself, even though his cause was good. Nor could he match Mao in mud-slinging and ‘political’ smearing”.^[30] Increased polarization has made it very unappealing to participate in fact-based discussions on sensitive subjects. Consequently, freedom of speech is being limited, and this creates an even greater divide. 

The fight for human rights and individual​ dignity is far too important than to have it infiltrated by adversaries seeking to destabilize open societies.

The Red Thread in the Fight for Justice

The political polarization is by Marxist design, an evil elite in contrast to the poor and vulnerable in a societal pyramid. Author Douglas Murray argues that contemporary political movements fighting for social justice adopt the Marxist framework of political struggle in that, “Their enemy is defined not by its function of exploitation, but by wielding a certain power. And this power, too, does not derive from a place in the relations of production, but is the outcome of the form of social organisation characteristic of the present society. This society is indeed capitalist, but this is not its only characteristic, it is sexist and patriarchal as well, not to mention racist”.^[31] This eloquently mirrors how China, by creating division through influence, is able to shift the public debate to identity categorization. They are promoting a us vs.them arena. One should not fail to recall one of Mao`s ​maxims, “We are indebted to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin for giving us a weapon. The weapon is not a machine gun, but Marxism-Leninism”.^[32] Not only is China exploiting the political framework of social justice movements. They are infiltrating and corrupting them.

The CCP has launched its campaign into multiple domains. Destabilization is sought also through measures adding fuel to other proxies serving the interests of the CCP​.

The Sickle and Hammer​​​`​s Trigger Rhythm – Fueling Violence

China's strategy is not only about ideological influence. It also seeks to further an ongoing drug crisis by granting more access to narcotics.^[33] The strategy also enables gun violence on American streets by offering illegal firearms technology.

The Glock semi-automatic pistol is one of the world's most recognized pistols. They can easily be modified to a fully automatic machine gun, rendering it capable of emptying a magazine within seconds.^[34] The technology has wreaked havoc on many American streets, and the man behind it deeply regrets his invention.^[35] How does this relate to China?

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, these switches are advertised by Chinese companies.^[36] Federal agencies have shut down hundreds of websites linked to the illegal import of firearms technology from China.^[37] Linking the Chinese companies to the CCP might seem far-fetched. However, Dr. Jeffrey Becker recognizes that, “...the CCP’s efforts to blur the boundaries between the state and the private sector carry profound implications for how the United States and the West should interact with private Chinese firms.^[38] China would most surely prohibit an export of Glock switches if their intentions were peaceful. Imagine the ramifications of dividing a society's perception in an all or nothing manner, and also providing it with the means to more efficiently kill. 

An increase in gun violence weakens public trust, promoting chaos and friction. The export of aforementioned technology might just be another piece in CCP´​​s attempt to destabilize the West. 

War at Its Core

This paper has shed light on how China's strategy extends well beyond conventional warfare. It is by no means a gesture of insight. Their influence through social media, indirect funding, activism, and illegal firearms technology is feeding negative bias and divide. The unspoken grows more powerful than the roars from the extreme far right and left. Those caught in the middle no longer have a voice. The unsaid facilitates a form of warfare that inhibits the very mechanisms of democracy. This is leaving Western civilization with one existential question: Should hesitation continue to prevail, or is a decisive response finally warranted?

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