Chinese Government Likely Benefiting from Current Situation, Analysts Suggest

Foreign Propaganda Networks Exploit U.S. Political Divisions, Experts Warn

As political tensions continue to rise in the United States, foreign adversaries appear to be capitalizing on internal divisions, according to security experts and recent investigations. China’s Communist Party (CCP) and its allies are reportedly injecting misinformation into American discourse, particularly exploiting sensitive topics like anti-Semitism to further polarize the country.

Johns Hopkins scholar Ho-fung Hung recently highlighted this strategy, noting that Beijing sees value in fostering anti-American sentiment both domestically and globally. “They are thinking that if a war breaks out between the U.S. and China, that an anti-war movement breaks out around the world, spontaneously—or appearing spontaneous—that can restrain the U.S.,” Hung explained in a 2023 interview. “There is a coincidence of interest between Beijing and these people trying to bring down so-called ‘U.S. domination of the world.'”

This assessment comes amid growing evidence of sophisticated propaganda networks with ties to China operating within American media ecosystems. An investigation by the Daily Beast documented the activities of Neville Singham, described as a “Marxist billionaire” married to progressive activist and Code Pink founder Jodie Evans. Singham has reportedly built a pro-China propaganda empire that includes BreakThrough News, characterized as a “slick online media machine” that has recruited former employees of Russian state-affiliated outlets.

The investigation highlighted how these propaganda efforts often center around anti-Zionist content that simultaneously serves multiple foreign interests. One figure mentioned was Rania Khalek, a BreakThrough News personality who was spotted celebrating at progressive politician Zohran Mamdani’s recent election victory party alongside other controversial media figures.

Security analysts point to a concerning pattern where social media influencers across the political spectrum have seen their audiences grow substantially by promoting content that frequently features conspiracy theories, particularly those targeting Jewish communities. This pattern spans ideological divides, encompassing left-wing figures like Hasan Piker and right-wing personalities like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens.

Wilson Center scholar Izabella Tabarovsky has documented how much of this rhetoric follows templates developed decades ago. “Modern anti-Zionist discourse was developed and mass produced by the Soviets,” Tabarovsky notes in her research. “Designed by the KGB and overseen by chief Communist Party ideologues, the campaign had achieved numerous successes,” including reframing Zionism from a Jewish national liberation movement to associating it with “racism, fascism, Nazism, genocide, imperialism, colonialism, militarism and apartheid.”

Intelligence experts suggest that America’s historical resistance to global anti-Semitism makes it an ideal wedge issue for foreign actors seeking to destabilize U.S. society. By amplifying divisive content, these networks can set American institutions against the broader public, as evidenced by recent campus unrest following pro-Hamas demonstrations that disrupted normal operations at several universities.

The strategic value for China appears clear: undermining American social cohesion serves Beijing’s interests far more directly than influencing discourse about Israel or Middle Eastern conflicts. By supporting propaganda that inflames tensions around sensitive topics, China can potentially weaken its primary geopolitical rival without direct confrontation.

The infiltration of such narratives into mainstream American political discourse represents a significant concern for national security officials who have increasingly warned about foreign influence operations. These propaganda efforts don’t merely seek to promote specific policies but aim to fundamentally weaken American institutions and societal trust.

For U.S. policymakers, the challenge remains identifying and countering these influence campaigns without further restricting free speech or inadvertently contributing to the polarization that foreign actors seek to exploit. As these propaganda networks grow more sophisticated, distinguishing genuine political discourse from foreign-influenced content becomes increasingly difficult.

As tensions between the U.S. and China continue to rise across multiple fronts, including trade, technology, and security issues in the Pacific, this information warfare dimension adds another complex layer to an already challenging relationship between the world’s two largest economies.