New York residents should take action against political control tactics, whether they come from the Chinese Communist Party or the United Federation of Teachers.
In the political landscape of New York, concerns over foreign influence have come to the forefront. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been found to have ties with at least 53 Chinese-American "hometown associations" in the state, according to recent investigations.
These organizations, which are tax-exempt and prohibited from endorsing candidates or fundraising, have been found to openly promote Beijing's political agenda, meet with party members, and extensively interact with the Chinese Consulate. Some leaders of these associations have family or business in China and fear the consequences if they don't work with the Chinese government.
The influence of these associations has been a subject of scrutiny, with some politicians, like City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, alleged to have funneled city funds to groups that support them. In Zhuang's case, the New York Times reported $300,000 was funneled.
The CCP's influence operations have not been limited to financial support. In at least one case, an official linked to the government hinted at potential violence against a candidate. Moreover, China's influence operations have been successful in defeating candidates who support Hong Kong democracy.
The 1996 election saw a significant scandal involving the Chinese, with the Clintons, Al Gore, and the Democratic National Committee caught up in a huge fundraising scandal. Fast forward to recent years, and the search results do not provide a specific name of a person or group linked to the Chinese government accused of spying in the USA. However, last year, prosecutors charged an ex-aide to Govs. Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, Linda Sun, with acting as a Chinese spy.
China's influence operations have also been found to shift support away from political candidates, such as then-state Sen. Iwu Chu, who attended a banquet with Taiwan's president. In a more recent development, the New York Times last week exposed China's influence operations in New York, including efforts to undermine a congressional candidate who publicly criticized the regime.
Moreover, China waged a propaganda and disinformation campaign throughout the nation to meddle in the 2024 elections. Chinese national Christine Fang (Fang Fang) allegedly set "honeytraps" for US pols, with Rep. Eric Swalwell being one of her big targets.
The CCP's influence in New York's political culture makes it particularly vulnerable to manipulation by foreign powers and special interests. Until New Yorkers use their voices and votes to show their outrage, expect shady players to keep manipulating the government to serve their interests, not the public's. It is crucial for transparency and accountability to prevail in the political arena to safeguard the democratic process.
