Beijing’s Shadow: How China Weaponized U.S. Pro-Palestinian Activism
A new report published by the Program on Extremism at GWU reveals an intricate web of people, groups, and financial mechanisms created by China to fuel pro-Palestinian activism and damage the U.S.
In the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, the United States witnessed a surge in pro-Palestinian activism—campus sit-ins, mass protests, and a wave of online campaigns. But beneath the surface of what appeared to be organic grassroots mobilization, a new report from the Program on Extremism at George Washington University reveals a far more orchestrated effort.
According to the report, authored by Jennifer Baker, Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked networks have played a pivotal role in shaping, funding, and amplifying these movements, leveraging America’s social fissures to advance Beijing’s own geopolitical interests and weaken the United States.
The Report At a Glance
The report, “CCP Influence in U.S. Pro-Palestinian Activism,” reveals that Beijing-linked actors have taken advantage of the turmoil following the October 7th attacks by channeling millions of dollars and orchestrating sophisticated propaganda campaigns into U.S. activist networks through a web of interconnected actors and financial mechanisms.
Through a complex web of financial and ideological ties, Chinese interests have embedded themselves within radical U.S. groups, weaving anti-American narratives into the Pro-Palestinian cause, strategically utilizing movement incubators and alternative media outlets to amplify anti-Israel and anti-American narratives.

The Singham Network
At the core of these influence operations, according to the report, is Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. businessman residing in Shanghai. Singham, described as a self-proclaimed socialist with longstanding ties to Chinese entities, has developed a complex funding network that directs resources to activist groups promoting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel agendas. Money is funneled through nonprofits such as the United Community Fund and Justice and Education Fund, both of which have minimal public presence.
Singham’s ties to China stretch back decades, including his role as a technical advisor to Huawei, which was later designated a national security threat by the U.S. government. After selling his company ThoughtWorks in 2017, Singham expanded his financial activities in China, engaging in investments and participating in CCP-led influence workshops. His wife, Jodie Evans, co-founded CodePink, an organization that has also faced federal and congressional scrutiny for alleged CCP ties and anti-American activism.
Activist Fronts and Allies
The report has identified several organizations as primary vehicles for this influence. These groups champion anti-American, anti-Imperial, anti-Colonial, Socialist/Communist messaging and have combined these rallying cries with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel movement post October 7th.
The People’s Forum, a New York-based “movement incubator,” has received substantial funding from Singham and is described by lawmakers as operating in close ideological and operational alignment with the CCP. Other groups such as the ANSWER Coalition and International People’s Assembly (IPA) are also part of the so-called “Singham Network” and have a documented history of echoing CCP propaganda and anti-American rhetoric.
The People’s Forum, among others, is currently under congressional and federal scrutiny for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and for acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Chinese government. Lawmakers have demanded that Singham and his affiliated organizations be investigated for their role.

Post-October 7th: Birth of Shut It Down for Palestine
In the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack, the Singham Network quickly mobilized to form Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P), a hybrid protest movement blending online and offline actions. Just days after the attack,
SID4P, funded by organizations tied to Singham’s donor network, has since led direct-action campaigns, including infrastructure blockades and campus disruption. Many of the coalition's "convenors" are all part of the Singham Network donor portfolio, ensuring that Beijing-aligned interests maintain control over strategy and messaging.
How Money Moves and Influence Grows
The report describes a labyrinthine system of funding that has enabled the rapid scaling of protest movements in the U.S. The Singham Network exploits regulatory loopholes in the American nonprofit sector, allowing for the anonymous transfer of large sums to activist groups. These funds are routed through a series of shell companies, fiscal sponsors, and alternative media outlets, effectively masking their true origin and intent.
Donor-advised funds are used to obscure the source of millions of dollars, and these funds have been traced back to Singham’s Shanghai-based operations and, by extension, to CCP-linked interests. Many organizations in the network operate from the same New York office spaces and share staff with Chinese propaganda firms such as BreakThrough News (BTN), further blurring the line between domestic activism and foreign influence.

Media Influence
Central to the Singham network's influence operations is BTN, a media outlet that acts as its primary propaganda arm. BTN promotes pro-CCP, anti-American, and anti-Israel narratives. The network also includes the Qiao Collective, Dongsheng News, and various social media influencers, creating a coordinated ecosystem that spreads Beijing-aligned messaging across multiple platforms, according to the findings.
Notably, the report also cites Gordon Chang’s analysis on China’s use of TikTok’s in promoting pro-Hamas content and inciting unrest on U.S. campuses, calling it an "act of war." Chang points to data showing a high volume of Hamas-related content supporting the group and recalls how in 2020, Chinese intelligence allegedly used TikTok to target Americans likely to join protests, sending them videos on how to riot. He warns similar tactics could be influencing current anti-Israel protests at universities.
China’s Playbook for U.S. Division and Global Influence
The report concludes that China’s involvement in U.S. pro-Palestinian activism is part of a larger global strategy. By creating, capitalizing from, and promoting division after the October 7th Hamas attack, Beijing aims to weaken American social cohesion by amplifying divisive issues and fueling distrust within the country.
Furthermore, China seeks to erode support for Israel and Western alliances, positioning itself as a champion of the "global south." The report warns that this new form of influence operation is part of the CCP's ongoing campaign to reshape the global order by fueling America’s internal divisions as a tool for its geopolitical advantage.