Subtle Infiltration, Waning Vigilance: Chinese Influence in California Amid Trump-Era National Security Rollbacks
Image: DT phots1 / Shutterstock
By Joseph Leonard
As tensions rise amidst a great-power rivalry between the U.S. and China, and national security policy shifts, California has become a critical frontline. Beijing sees a unique strategic value in the state stemming from its economic and political predominance and its large Chinese diaspora. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s overhaul of counter-influence efforts has eroded America’s ability to monitor and respond to such influence operations. This article examines how the People's Republic of China (PRC) embedded itself deeply within California’s political, academic, and digital worlds and considers the implications of a potentially self-sabotaging White House.
China’s influence playbook is dynamic and all-encompassing, infiltrating politics and diaspora communities, promoting pro-Beijing narratives across digital platforms and the media, and extending censorship and repression far beyond its borders. It operates across almost every aspect of public and private life, including academic research, education, business, and finance. While this report focuses on China’s most noteworthy operations within California, it should be mentioned that Chinese influence efforts in the U.S. are likely more frequent and sophisticated than is publicly known.
Tone Change
A bipartisan awareness of the difficulties of positive collaboration and the zero-sum nature of superpower competition are principal factors behind the recent deterioration of America’s relationship with China. Americans' negative perception of China has aligned the public with the Sino-skepticism of national policymakers.
Yet, while a nationwide tone change promoted hawkishness toward China, California remains more open to Beijing. Governor Gavin Newsom’s actions are a good indicator of this. Newsom was the first—and last—state governor to travel to the country post-pandemic, in a trip some say was stained by his refusal to discuss human rights and democracy. Additionally, the controversial new “Bay to Bay” initiative between San Francisco and southern China—for which Newsom has voiced his support—demonstrates an openness to economic initiatives that critics say could increase Chinese influence. The combination of its strategic value and relatively sympathetic ear makes California a prime environment for Chinese influence operations. It’s therefore unsurprising that California is the only state to which China has a Ministry of State Security (MSS) unit dedicated to intelligence and influence efforts.
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Joseph Leonard is a Junior Fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy. Born in London and educated between the U.S. and U.K., his interest in security issues was kindled through two years in the British Army’s University Officer Training Corps and a degree in politics and international relations from the University of Kent. He is currently studying Mandarin at the China Institute in NYC in preparation for language study in Taiwan next summer.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
