The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified its influence and surveillance operations inside the United States, targeting dissidents, academics, and Chinese diaspora communities, according to a report by European Times.

The CCP’s campaign aims to protect its image, silence critics, and enforce ideological conformity—even among those who have left China seeking freedom. Some operations allegedly function through “community service centres” that monitor and intimidate critics abroad. The FBI recently arrested two men in New York accused of running such an illegal station under the direction of China’s Ministry of Public Security. Prosecutors say they tried to coerce a dissident into returning to China.

The report calls China’s transnational repression “persistent and systematic,” targeting ethnic minorities, democracy activists, and religious practitioners. Chinese students and scholars in the US have reported harassment, while professors teaching sensitive topics—such as the Tiananmen Square massacre or Xinjiang—have faced online threats.

China’s influence is also exerted overtly through cultural diplomacy, economic investments, and the CCP’s United Front Work Department, which seeks to shape public opinion globally. On US campuses, some Chinese student groups allegedly linked to consulates have monitored peers and reported “unpatriotic” behaviour, fostering fear and self-censorship.

Digitally, pro-Beijing networks spread disinformation, harass activists, and push CCP narratives on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Apps like TikTok raise concerns over data security, censorship, and cultural influence.

The CCP also employs “lawfare,” using legal systems to target exiled dissidents, manipulate extradition treaties, and intimidate journalists and scholars.

The message is clear: no critic is beyond reach. These operations threaten core US democratic values, including freedom of speech, academic freedom, and human rights.