China expert warns Beijing wants Americans — not the CCP — to spread its message
House Panel to Probe Foreign “Trojan Horses” in U.S. Public Debate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee will ask congressional leaders and experts to examine how foreign governments—particularly China, but also Cuba and Iran—might use American nonprofits, activist networks and other domestic actors to shape U.S. public opinion and policy. The session, titled “Trojan Horses: Covert Foreign Malign Influence Operations in America,” will focus on the ways these actors attempt to steer sensitive national‑security conversations toward their own strategic interests.
A Focus on Domestic Channels
Matthew Johnson, a China specialist and senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, is set to testify. Johnson argues that Beijing’s most effective strategy is to influence debate through U.S. institutions and individuals, rather than through overt state propaganda. “The idea is that it’s not the Communist Party talking, it’s actually institutions and individuals in the United States who are talking,” Johnson told Fox News Digital. “That looks organic…as if it’s produced from within our society.”
Johnson added that China’s current priority is to slow U.S. advances in artificial intelligence and data‑center infrastructure—areas the Chinese leadership sees as central to strategic competition. He says the influence strategy blends grassroots activism with efforts to shape thought among academics, policy experts and other influential voices.
The Neville Singham Funding Network
The hearing will also explore a funding network linked to Shanghai‑based tech magnate Neville Roy Singham. According to earlier reports, Singham has funneled at least $285 million into six pro‑China nonprofit organizations since 2017, including the anti‑war activist group CodePink. Singham and the nonprofits have denied receiving direction from the Chinese government, and neither has faced criminal charges.
CodePink, co‑founded by Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans and run by Singham’s wife, has long organized disruptive protests inside Congress and championed campaigns such as “China Is Not Our Enemy,” which calls for cooperation with Beijing rather than confrontation. Republican lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee have accused the group of advancing narratives that align with the Chinese Communist Party, allegations that CodePink rejects.
“Promoting an image of China that downplays broader geopolitical competition serves Beijing’s strategic interests,” Johnson said. “By masking the fact that China seeks a world order more shaped by Beijing, these campaigns shift public debate away from viewing China as a strategic competitor.”
Congressional Goals
Chairman Rep. Bill Huizenga (R‑Mich.) said the hearing aims to “raise the curtain to expose these operations and stop them from undermining our national security, capitalism and the American Dream.” He emphasized that lawmakers want to ensure that debate is led by Americans, not foreign actors.
The panel will investigate how foreign adversaries use nonprofits, activist networks and other domestic institutions to influence U.S. public debate and policymaking. The inquiry comes amid ongoing congressional investigations into the funding ties between Singham’s network and the nonprofits it supports, as well as a federal criminal probe.
What’s at Stake
Johnson described the concept of a “Trojan horse” as reflecting Beijing’s preference for influencing American debate through domestic actors rather than direct government messaging. He said the real issue is whether the U.S. has enough transparency to assess whether debate is truly balanced and free from foreign manipulation.
As the hearing unfolds, lawmakers and experts will weigh the extent to which foreign influence shapes U.S. policy discussions on national security, technology, and foreign relations, and what steps can be taken to protect the integrity of American public discourse.