The United States says it has uncovered moves by China and other foreign governments to influence its November elections.
At a news briefing by officials of the FBI at the Foreign Press centre in Washington DC, a newly released intelligence update suggests that China is shifting its focus away from high-profile presidential races, to state and local elections.
This, according to the FBI officials is reportedly due to Beijing’s perception that Washington remains largely opposed to its interests.
Officials are concerned that China sees some non-presidential candidates as threats to its core security interests and is attempting to influence those races behind the scenes.
They identified social media as one of the key tools used to engage U.S. audiences, saying China is promoting divisive political issues including protests surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and pushing negative narratives about both major political parties.
U.S. intelligence sources have also warned that these efforts, while subtle, could escalate, saying “the goal appears to be swaying public opinion and shaping the political landscape in ways that benefit China’s long-term strategic interests”.
The report notes that while China’s influence operations are most visible, other nations are also testing the waters.
According to the FBI, “countries beyond China, Russia, and Iran are considering activities that walk the fine line of election influence”.
It insists that while these countries may not be engaging in outright interference, they are lobbying political figures, trying to curry favor with them ahead of the elections.
U.S. authorities say its intelligence community is closely monitoring these activities to ensure the integrity of the U.S. elections and are urging vigilance as foreign influence continues to evolve.
