Publication

This paper contends that China has undertaken a campaign to expand its influence by turning the strengths of its competitors’ free, open societies into weaknesses. More specifically, the authors believe that China has engaged in a long-term effort to short-circuit the cycle of exchange and influence between key areas of society —including politics, academia and the private sector— and public opinion to shape free societies’ views on Beijing and its actions. In response, the authors argue the US and its partners must now engage in the difficult task of countering Chinese influence operations, but without undermining the strength of their democratic institutions.