The United States Congress is investigating a network of left-wing NGOs suspected of acting as instruments of influence for the Communist Party of China (CCP). The scheme would involve financing millions of dollars to promote narratives favorable to Beijing on American soil.
What did the US government investigations reveal about these NGOs?
A State Department report points out that China uses NGOs, influencers and state media to manipulate information in the US. Groups such as Code Pink and People’s Forum are cited for promoting content aligned with Beijing, denigrating American institutions and softening the violence of Marxist regimes, while receiving resources from donors linked to the Chinese regime.
Who is Neville Roy Singham and what is his role in this scheme?
Singham is an American businessman based in Shanghai who is behind the so-called “Singham Network”. Investigations indicate that he invested at least US$100 million to structure this network of influence, using shell companies and donation funds to hide the origin of the money and finance activist groups that defend Chinese interests.
What are the main organizations investigated and what do they do?
In addition to Code Pink (feminist and anti-war) and the People’s Forum (Marxist formation), the network includes the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the ANSWER Coalition, BreakThrough News and the Tricontinental Institute. Each entity has a role: some mobilize protesters on the streets, others train activists and the rest take care of disseminating messages favorable to China in digital media.
What punishments can these entities suffer in American justice?
The centerpiece is the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). If it is proven that they act politically on behalf of a foreign government without official registration, NGOs will be required to declare their sources of funding. Non-compliance can lead to heavy civil sanctions and even criminal liability for those involved.
Does the strategy of influencing public opinion go beyond NGOs?
Yes. A network of almost 80 websites was discovered that imitated prestigious outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian to publish Chinese propaganda. This tactic, called “spamouflage”, uses fake profiles and coordinated posts to give the appearance of credibility to news manufactured by the Communist Party of China.
Content produced based on information gathered by the Gazeta do Povo team of reporters. To access the full information and delve deeper into the topic, read the report below.
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