(TheRedWire.com) – In a bold strategic move two years into his term, President Donald Trump greenlit a covert Central Intelligence Agency initiative aimed at influencing Chinese public sentiment against its own government. This clandestine endeavor, as revealed by former U.S. officials with intimate knowledge of the operation, involved a dedicated CIA team utilizing digital personas to propagate narratives critical of Xi Jinping’s administration and disseminating negative intelligence to foreign media. Initiated in 2019, this campaign marks its first public disclosure.
According to these insiders, the CIA’s digital task force embarked on discrediting the Communist Party of China by accusing its members of concealing illicit funds abroad and criticizing China’s Belt and Road Initiative as corrupt. This global strategy by China aims to cement infrastructure partnerships with developing countries, yet faced U.S. scrutiny for its transparency and intentions.
Despite the secrecy shrouding the precise tactics employed, sources affirm that these campaigns were rooted in truth, albeit released covertly. The operations were designed to instigate unease among China’s elite, compelling the government to divert resources to counter perceived threats to its internet sovereignty, as described by former officials.
Officially, the CIA and the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have withheld comments on these allegations. The former reiterated U.S. concerns over China’s escalating covert global influence efforts, positioning the CIA’s actions as a countermeasure reminiscent of Cold War espionage dynamics.
The long-term effects of these secret activities remain unclear, as does the continuation of the program under President Joe Biden’s administration. Historical precedents suggest such presidential directives often extend beyond a single presidency.
Trump, eyeing a political comeback, hints at adopting an even firmer stance against China. His administration’s approach reflects a stark departure from previous U.S. policy, elevating the risks of heightened tensions with a significant global power like China, capable of economic retaliation.
This initiative follows earlier enhancements to the CIA’s offensive cyber capabilities in response to foreign cyber threats. The 2019 directive expanded the CIA’s operational scope beyond China, aiming to sway public opinion in key regions worldwide where U.S. and Chinese interests clash.
The authorization, crafted with the perception of facing an aggressive China, sought to level the informational playing field. It highlighted concerns over China’s strategic maneuvers, including alleged intellectual property theft and military expansions, as significant threats to U.S. security.
Experts caution against the potential repercussions of such covert influence campaigns, arguing they could reinforce China’s longstanding accusations of Western meddling and jeopardize the safety of dissidents and journalists by associating them with CIA efforts, thus straining international perceptions of U.S. actions.
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