Report: CIA launched a covert campaign against China in 2019
In a major disclosure, three former US officials revealed to Reuters that the Central Intelligence Agency initiated a covert programme in 2019 targeting the Chinese government.
According to the officials, a small team of CIA operatives used online identities to spread negative narratives about the Chinese leadership on social media platforms in China. They also leaked disparaging intelligence to overseas media outlets.
The undercover operation began two years into Donald Trump’s presidency, as concerns grew over China’s expanding global influence through economic and infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative.
While the sources did not provide operational details, they said the anti-China messaging planted by intelligence officers was based on facts but secretly attributed to fake online profiles.
According to one ex-official, the aim was to sow paranoia within Beijing’s top echelons and divert resources to internal investigations.
A CIA spokesperson declined to comment on the operation.
China’s Foreign Ministry criticised the reported covert influence efforts, calling it manipulation of public opinion globally through “false information”.
Experts noted that this covert action shifts to Cold War-era political warfare tactics as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing amid China’s rise.
