A startling report by a leading U.S. newspaper has accused China of expanding its alleged interference in the American political process, shifting focus from presidential contests to congressional and local elections. The investigation claims Beijing is attempting to manipulate the balance of power in the U.S. Congress and city governments by leveraging the influence of its vast diaspora, particularly in major urban centers like New York City, which is home to a Chinese community of 600,000 people.
According to The New York Times, China-backed community organizations in New York have been instrumental in derailing the campaigns of candidates critical of Beijing. The report cites specific instances, including the obstruction of a congressional hopeful who had denounced the Chinese government and contributing to the electoral defeat of a congressman who attended a reception with the president of Taiwan. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted social media groups that targeted a New York City candidate for advocating for democracy in Hong Kong.
The primary vehicles for this alleged influence are long-standing ‘hometown associations,’ which unite immigrants and their descendants from the same cities or provinces in China. While many of these clubs have existed for over a century and were not historically aligned with the Communist Party, their sentiment has reportedly shifted. China’s rapid economic ascent and its rise as a global power have fostered a new sense of patriotism, which Beijing is accused of harnessing for its political objectives.
The New York Times asserts that China’s consulate in Manhattan plays a pivotal role in this strategy. It allegedly exerts pressure on community leaders, some of whom have family or property in China, to intimidate local politicians who support Taiwan or criticize Beijing’s human rights record. American Sinologist Audrey Wang described this as a ‘long game’ for Beijing, aimed at suppressing dissent within the diaspora while simultaneously cultivating local activists who could one day become influential national figures.
These journalistic claims are bolstered by recent actions from U.S. law enforcement. In 2023, the FBI arrested the leaders of one such association for allegedly operating an unauthorized ‘police station’ to monitor community members. In a separate case, the FBI charged a former aide to New York’s governor with conspiring with two Chinese associations whose political activities were allegedly ‘supervised, directed, and controlled’ by Chinese officials.
In response to the allegations, a representative from the Chinese consulate has categorically denied any interference in U.S. elections, stating that China strictly adheres to international law. The consulate described its engagement with the American public as ‘open and transparent’ and firmly rejected what it termed ‘malicious accusations and slander.’ The issue emerges in a city where community ties, including from Indian and Turkish diasporas, can be pivotal in elections, but the allegations of state-directed foreign interference set these claims apart.