China's Influence Operations: A Threat to US Democracy?

The recent arrest of Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, has shed light on China's growing efforts to influence U.S. politics at the state level. Sun is accused of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, pushing its interests at state functions and blocking representatives from Taiwan from meeting with top officials in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars. This case highlights a concerning trend: China sees it as increasingly important to cultivate relationships with U.S. officials even at the local level, despite the growing tensions between the two countries on a federal level. While previous cases involved suspected Chinese spies surveilling dissidents critical of the Communist Party, Tuesday's case appears to show how China is trying to directly influence U.S. politics in line with its interests. So why focus on state-level relationships? As the bilateral relationship has soured and being tough on China has become a bipartisan issue, seeking influence at the regional level has grown in importance for Beijing. Something is better than nothing when it comes to shaping policy and public opinion. China's Communist Party has a dedicated branch called the United Front that oversees a multitude of groups which engage overseas Chinese under the guise of social or industry organizations. These groups, like the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, seek to build membership abroad and cultivate ties with the diaspora community. Sun was linked with Shi Qianping, who has described himself as a standing committee member of this group. She also engaged with regional branches in her home province of Jiangsu. As for how Beijing wants to use these connections, Sun's case shows an interest in promoting messages that align with its views and keeping officials from mentioning sensitive topics like human rights abuses. The growing presence of overseas Chinese police stations, set up without the knowledge of host countries, has also raised concerns about China's influence operations abroad. Last year, New York police arrested two men for allegedly setting up a secret station for a Chinese provincial police agency. So what should states do? There needs to be more strategic thinking and resources dedicated to engaging with China at the local level. Once that infrastructure is in place, U.S. officials can make informed decisions about how to approach interactions with their counterparts in China. Cutting off engagement entirely may not be the answer, but it's clear that China's influence operations pose a real threat to democracy if left unchecked. As the investigation into Sun's case continues and more details emerge, it will be important for policymakers and the public alike to critically examine the nature of U.S.-China relations at all levels. The stakes are high when it comes to protecting the integrity of our political system from foreign interference.

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