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Look Who’s Using Social Media to Impersonate American Voters and Spread Divisive Narratives

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A new report has found Chinese operatives are using social media platforms to impersonate American voters and spread divisive narratives about issues in the U.S., particularly social issues, and political conversations around the 2024 presidential election.

Graphika, a company that analyzes online social media behaviors, published their report titled “The #Americans” Tuesday, detailing how Spamouflage – a Chinese state-linked influence operation – has become increasingly aggressive on social media platforms, using personas disguised as Americans to sew divisive narratives.

Spamouflage is an influence operation first monitored by Graphika in 2019. Active on over 40 online platforms, it uses inauthentic accounts to promote pro-China and anti-Western narratives. Graphika determined the origins of the operation are linked to the Chinese government.

Graphika’s ATLAS intelligence reporting, which analyzes real-time intelligence and data, identified over a dozen accounts claiming to be American citizens, fifteen Spamouflage accounts were found on X, while one account was found on TikTok.

These accounts all claim to be American citizens, and have been found to be sowing doubt in the U.S. electoral process, while also targeting social issues like gun control, racial inequality, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Analysts state much of the content was likely generated through the use of artificial intelligence. (Read more from “Look Who’s Using Social Media to Impersonate American Voters and Spread Divisive Narratives” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Bombshell Indictment: Top New York Democrat Aide Worked as Agent of Influence for China, Communist Party

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A former top aide to New York Govs. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Kathy Hochul (D) used her high-ranking position in the state’s government to peddle influence for China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while profiting millions in the process, an unsealed federal indictment alleges.

On Tuesday, federal prosecutors unsealed the indictment against 41-year-old Linda Sun, born in China and a naturalized American citizen, and her husband, 40-year-old Chris Hu. The indictment charges the couple with operating a money laundering and bank fraud scheme thanks in part to Sun’s allegedly acting as an agent of influence for China while working in Cuomo and Hochul’s administrations.

The couple were arrested and arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

The 64-page indictment is far-reaching, detailing Sun’s alleged work as an agent for China and her husband’s subsequent illegal business dealings in China. In particular, the indictment lays out how Sun allegedly acted on behalf of the CCP while working for Cuomo, who is called “Politician-1,” and Hochul, who is called “Politician-2.” The indictment states:

The defendant LINDA SUN acted at the order, direction, or request of representatives of the [People’s Republic of China (PRC)] government and the CCP to engage in political activities intended to influence the public, including the [New York State (NYS)] government, with respect to the political or public interests of the PRC government and the CCP. (Read more from “Bombshell Indictment: Top New York Democrat Aide Worked as Agent of Influence for China, Communist Party” HERE)

Look Who’s Stirring up Trouble Between Russia and China

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Taiwan’s president is stirring up trouble between allies Russia and China, after he stated on Taiwanese media that China should take back land from Russia if Beijing truly believes Taiwan being in China’s control is about territorial integrity, according to the Straits Times.

During the Quing dynasty, China’s last royal dynasty, China signed the Treaty of Aigun in 1858 which turned over a huge swath of land to Russia – a treaty modern-day China has referred to as “unequal.”

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, who has been labeled a “separatist” by China, mentioned this tidbit during his interview, and dismissed China’s claim it wants control of Taiwan because of “territorial integrity.”

“China’s intention to attack and annex Taiwan is not because of what any one person or political party in Taiwan says or does. It is not for the sake of territorial integrity that China wants to annex Taiwan … If it is for the sake of territorial integrity, why doesn’t it take back the lands occupied by Russia that were signed over in the Treaty of Aigun? Russia is now at its weakest right?” Lai said.

Lai said the intentions of China are clear, it wants to change the international order and establish a hegemony.

(Read more from “Look Who’s Stirring up Trouble Between Russia and China” HERE)

WATCH: China on Verge of Starting a War With Its Neighbors, Including U.S. Allies

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The People’s Republic of China is on the verge of starting a war with its neighbors, and by extension the U.S., as it increases its aggression in a series of situations, close calls, over the past week.

The U.S. Naval Institute reported Monday that China violated Japanese airspace after it flew a Y-9 electronic intelligence aircraft over the Danjo Islands in the East China Sea, which is part of Japan’s territorial waters.

Japanese officials stated in response to the violation, Self-Defense Forces launched two fighter jets from its Western Air Command, and issued notices and warnings, and further released a protest against the airspace violation.

Japan’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Masataka Okano, summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Foreign Affairs of Japan, strongly urging the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prevent any further recurrences.

According to Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies’ 2024 China Security Report, China viewed the U.S. as a threat to its Chinese Communist Party after the Cold War, however, China avoided confrontation and instead worked on promoting cooperation between the two nations. (Read more from “WATCH: China on Verge of Starting a War With Its Neighbors, Including U.S. Allies” HERE)

China Poised to Cut Off U.S. Military From Key Mineral as America’s Own Reserves Lay Buried Under Red Tape

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China is planning to restrict exports of a key mineral needed to make weapons while a U.S. company that could be reducing America’s reliance on foreign suppliers is languishing in red tape, energy experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The Chinese government announced on August 15 that it will restrict exports of antimony, a critical mineral that dominates the production of weapons globally and is essential for producing equipment like munitions, night vision goggles and bullets that are essential to national security, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Perpetua Resources, an American mining company, has been navigating red tape for years to develop a mine in Valley County, Idaho, that could decrease reliance on the Chinese supply of antimony, but the slow permitting process is getting in the way, energy experts told the DCNF.

It can take years to secure all the necessary approvals and permits to develop a mine like the one Perpetua Resources is trying to operate. One of the key permitting laws in place is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which also applies to federal land management actions and the construction of certain public infrastructure projects like highways.

“After six years of planning and early engagement, we began the [NEPA] permitting process in 2016. We are now eight years into NEPA,” a Perpetua Resources spokesperson told the DCNF. The company is hoping to extract antimony from the largest known deposit in the U.S., and Perpetua Resources’ development could also produce millions of ounces of gold as well. (Read more from “China Poised to Cut Off U.S. Military From Key Mineral as America’s Own Reserves Lay Buried Under Red Tape” HERE)

Tim Walz Taught at China’s State-Run Macau Polytechnic University Until at Least 2007

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Tim Walz lectured on international relations at a state-run university in China and made dozens of trips to the Communist country — many of them now under scrutiny a week after he was chosen as the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

US Congressman Jim Banks of Indiana is demanding the Pentagon investigate whether the Minnesota governor complied with foreign travel reporting requirements “for his security clearance during his many trips,” some of which took place while he was a senior ranking member of his state’s Army National Guard.

In a letter to the Pentagon Tuesday, Republican Banks called the situation “an obvious security risk.”

Walz was a visiting fellow at the CCP-sanctioned Macau Polytechnic University until at least 2007, according to public filings and press reports. The school was established in 1981 and subscribes to the vision of China’s Belt and Road Initiative — a massive infrastructure program that is the cornerstone of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s aggressive pursuit of influence overseas.

“We do this in alignment with China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” reads a statement from Marcus Im Sio Kei, the rector of the Macau Polytechnic University, on the school’s website. “We are committed to cultivate talented individuals to serve the country and Macau.” (Read more from “Tim Walz Taught at China’s State-Run Macau Polytechnic University Until at Least 2007” HERE)

U.S. Rejects Chinese No-First-Use Nuke Plan

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A Chinese proposal submitted to the United Nations last month calling on all nations to adopt Beijing’s questionable “no first use” nuclear weapons policy is a nonstarter for the United States.

A State Department official told Inside the Ring that the no-first-use policy would be unacceptable given China’s massive nuclear weapons buildup and its refusal to join U.S. arms talks.

“The PRC’s rapid and opaque buildup of a more flexible nuclear arsenal calls into question the objectives behind its no-first-use proposal,” the official said, speaking on background and using the abbreviation for People’s Republic of China. “[China’s] refusal to engage in meaningful bilateral or multilateral discussions on arms control and risk reduction, including on questions about the PRC’s stated no-first-use policy, reinforces these concerns.”

The proposal was introduced in a U.N. preparatory meeting in Geneva from July 22 to Aug. 2 in advance of a major 2026 review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In a working paper by the Chinese government, President Xi Jinping describes nuclear arms as a “sword of Damocles” threatening humanity. All nuclear weapons should be “completely banned” in pursuit of a nuclear-free world, he said. (Read more from “U.S. Rejects Chinese No-First-Use Nuke Plan” HERE)

Chinese-Made Humanoid Robots Raise Alarms in Congress: ‘Stealth Army on Our Land’

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Advanced Chinese-made robots with eerily lifelike capabilities are poised to enter the global market — and some US lawmakers are already demanding that they be banned in the US, The Post has learned.

While not yet widely publicized, various Chinese companies have begun producing humanoid robots that are capable of carrying boxes, moving at high speeds and even replicating human facial expressions.

One leading Chinese firm, Unitree Robotics, has developed a $90,000 robot capable of running at speeds of up to 11 mph. A cheaper $16,000 version can absorb punches and kicks and twirl a baton. Many other firms have similar products under development.

Jacob Helberg — a member of the influential US-China Economic and Security Review Commission who played a key role convincing Congress to pass a law this spring to force a sale or ban of TikTok — is one of the loudest voices warning Congress that it risks disaster if it allows the sale of robots made by firms beholden to Beijing.

Helberg said advancements in humanoid technology have occurred “mind-bogglingly fast.”

(Read more from “Chinese-Made Humanoid Robots Raise Alarms in Congress: ‘Stealth Army on Our Land’” HERE)

China Expert Says Trump is Absolutely Correct About the T-Word

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Well-known China expert Gordon Chang has confirmed President Donald Trump is correct when he suggests tariffs are part of the solution of America’s business dealing with China.

Trump has suggested if elected, he’d pursue tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese goods being dumped on American shores.

“I can’t believe how many people are negative on tariffs that are actually smart people,” Trump said just a few weeks ago. “Economically, they’re phenomenal.”

In a commentary at Gatestone Institute, where he is distinguished senior fellow and advisory board member, Chang pointed out that immediately, “a lot of smart people” have insisted that high tariffs are “horrible.”

“Trump is right. Although these levies would increase costs to American consumers, the costs would not be nearly as great as experts say. Moreover, there are other considerations, both economic and national security, favoring raising tariffs now,” Chang wrote. (Read more from “China Expert Says Trump is Absolutely Correct About the T-Word” HERE)

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Chinese and Russian Bombers Seen Off Coast of Alaska

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On Wednesday, Chinese and Russian nuclear-capable bombers ventured into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) off the coast of Alaska. This marked the first known incursion by Chinese H-6 bombers into this strategic buffer zone, prompting a swift response from both the United States and Canada.

According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the simultaneous appearance of Chinese and Russian bombers in the Alaskan ADIZ is a significant development. While the ADIZ itself is not sovereign airspace, and such incursions do not constitute an act of war, they are provocations that necessitate a robust defensive posture.

NORAD’s command reported intercepting and tracking two Russian TU-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers. U.S. forces deployed F-16 and F-35 fighters to monitor the situation, while Canada responded with its CF-18 fighters.

While the Russian bombers have entered the Alaskan ADIZ before—most recently in May—this incident stands out as it involved a Chinese military presence. The joint patrol of Russian and Chinese bombers, which was confirmed by Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Zhang Xiaogang, marks the eighth such strategic air patrol between the two nations since 2019. Zhang emphasized that the patrol was designed to enhance coordination between the two air forces.

China’s increasing assertiveness in the Arctic region has been a point of contention for several years. Declaring itself a “near-Arctic state,” China has sought to expand its influence and involvement in Arctic affairs, often using terms like “polar Silk Road” to describe its ambitions. This effort aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy to secure access to Arctic resources and integrate the region into its global infrastructure initiatives.

The Pentagon has expressed growing concern over the expanding cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic. A recent Department of Defense report highlighted the increasing alignment of these two major powers in the region as a significant strategic challenge:

While significant areas of disagreement between the PRC and Russia remain, their growing alignment in the region is of concern