During his presidency, Donald Trump initiated a covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operation aimed at undermining the Chinese government by influencing public opinion in China. This classified campaign, which began in 2019 and has only recently been disclosed, involved CIA operatives employing fake online identities to spread negative narratives about Xi Jinping’s administration and leaking unflattering intelligence to foreign media.
The operation sought to expose alleged corruption within the Chinese Communist Party and criticize China’s Belt and Road Initiative, portraying it as corrupt and inefficient. Although based on factual narratives, these efforts were discreetly orchestrated under false pretenses by intelligence operatives, aiming to sow discord among China’s leadership and deplete its resources in policing its tightly regulated internet space.
This strategy was a response to China’s assertive global maneuvers and covert operations aimed at bolstering its international standing. Echoing Cold War tactics, this move signaled a return to the ideological confrontations reminiscent of the US-Soviet rivalry, with Trump advocating a more aggressive stance toward China than his predecessors.
The operation’s impact and its continuation under the Biden administration remain uncertain, as the presidential finding that authorized the CIA’s actions typically extends across presidencies. Amidst escalating US-China tensions, this revelation underscores the complexities of modern geopolitical maneuvering and the shadowy battle for global influence.
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