Warns Of Increased Chinese Influence Operations, US Counterintelligence Service: Deceptive And Coercive

Illustration of Chinese and US flags. (Wikimedia Commons/Sgt. Mikki Sprenkle)

JAKARTA - The United States counterintelligence agency warned state and local officials that China was intensifying its influence operations aimed at manipulating them to pressure the federal government to pursue more Beijing-friendly policies.

China "understands that US state and local leaders enjoy a degree of independence from Washington and may seek to use it as a proxy, to advocate for US national policies that Beijing wants," the Center for Counter Intelligence and National Security said in a bulletin sent to state and local officials.

The warning comes amid sharp tensions between Washington and Beijing over a number of issues. From US arms sales to Taiwan and China's human rights record, to Beijing's military activities in the South China Sea and alleged espionage operations against the United States.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter.

The administration of US President Joe Biden views China as a strategic competitor. But it said it was determined to avoid conflict and pursue Beijing's compliance with international rules and institutions on peace and security.

The new counter-intelligence bulletin says Beijing is using various means to manipulate state and local officials to pressure Washington to make policies more friendly to China.

"China's (People's Republic of China) influence operations can be deceptive and coercive, with seemingly innocuous business opportunities or person-to-person exchanges sometimes obscuring the PRC's political agenda," he said.

China's approach includes using front groups such as the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, which fosters "brotherly" relations between Beijing and US territories, the bulletin said.

Another group, the National Association for the Peaceful Reunification of China, promotes Sino-US friendship, but supports Beijing's views on Taiwan in letters to members of Congress and others, he continued.

China's communist government says it seeks "peaceful reunification" with democratic Taiwan. But it reserves 'another option' for the island which is considered a province of China.