In September, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) marked a significant occasion with a military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II. During the event, Chairman Xi Jinping made a stark declaration from Tiananmen Square. Echoing the legacy of Mao Zedong, he told the world, “We must now choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation.” This choice, as Xi has shown, reflects a clear preference: he is waging a form of warfare on U.S. soil through a strategic initiative known as the United Front. This approach involves numerous activities aimed at influencing how the American populace thinks and behaves, with the goal of manipulating opinion and culture on a grand scale.
The methods employed by Xi are pervasive. China has entwined itself into essential sectors of American life, infiltrating food supplies, investment funds, educational institutions, and healthcare systems. This strategy raises serious national security concerns. Although the federal government can act to bolster national security, the unique and invasive nature of China’s plans requires vigilant, localized responses. States must take proactive measures to protect their interests and share effective tactics to counter the CCP’s influence.
China’s stronghold in vital industries significantly impacts everyday Americans. The acquisition of Smithfield Foods, the country’s largest pork supplier, and the purchase of extensive farmland illustrate a chokehold on food supply chains. Furthermore, the encroachment extends to public pension funds, where investments entangled with Chinese companies pose risks. On college campuses, the Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) suppress free expression, disrupting events that contradict CCP ideology. In K-12 education, Confucius Classrooms aim to instill a favorable perception of China among young students.
The infiltration does not stop there. The control exerted through social media is alarming. TikTok, a platform owned by China-based ByteDance, has been linked to troubling trends that promote harmful behaviors among its young users, including stealing vehicles and vandalizing property. Public concern about this manipulation is palpable; polling data from The Vandenberg Coalition reveals that 86% of Trump voters support measures to curb the CCP’s investments in American land, and 92% of seniors who voted for him support initiatives to divest public retirement funds from Chinese holdings. Responses from younger voters echo this sentiment, with alarming numbers expressing unease over TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
Meanwhile, the federal government is taking significant steps. In a move aimed at safeguarding American agriculture from Chinese encroachment, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently launched the National Farm Security Action Plan. This comprehensive program addresses threats posed by China’s extensive agricultural operations. Steps have also been taken to pressure pharmaceutical firms to cease importing Chinese drug ingredients, reflecting a growing recognition of the risks involved.
State officials are also stepping up. Facing the possibility of frozen assets during potential conflicts with China, Indiana has initiated the process of divesting its pension funds from Chinese-linked entities. Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, alongside her fellow state leaders, advocated for the Securities and Exchange Commission to restrict Chinese entities from receiving favorable investment statuses. Similarly, Nebraska has instituted a ban on foreign ownership of farmland, while Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders implemented new regulations requiring lobbyists representing foreign interests in Arkansas to register publicly.
As of 2024, nearly forty states have enacted partial bans on TikTok on government-issued devices, driven by rigorous research from local think tanks and active voter concerns. These state-led initiatives can profoundly influence the preservation of American freedoms and security, demonstrating that every level of government can contribute to a united front against external threats.
China’s potential dominance presents a terrifying scenario in which they could control food supplies, pharmaceuticals, and even the education of American children. They could shape the minds of this nation through controlled platforms like TikTok, fostering division and dangerous trends within communities and families. State governments must recognize these aggressive moves. They need to heed the voices of constituents who have expressed clear support for measures against the CCP. By adopting proactive strategies and learning from successful initiatives in other states, they can collectively work to prevent the realization of Xi Jinping’s ambitious aims on American soil.
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