The Strategic Patience of Beijing: Exploiting America's Fractures

LJ Eads

Now more than six months into Trump’s term, many Americans are reflecting not just on the outcome of the election, but on the deep divisions that continue to shape our nation. Political polarization has intensified, with stark disagreements not just between parties, but within them. Trust in federal institutions has eroded, and in some cases, we’ve seen open conflict between branches of the federal government and state governments over core issues- from election procedures to public health mandates to education policy. Even our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have become political battlegrounds. These are not the normal tensions of a vibrant democracy but fractures being watched, studied, and exploited. These issues though deeply rooted in our democratic fabric don’t exist in a vacuum.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is watching closely, and its strategy to leverage these divisions is well underway. In the CCP's eyes, our challenges are not just signs of a strong democracy under stress; they’re opportunities to promote their own ideology, subtly discredit our democratic system, and recruit sympathizers. The CCP sees our division not just as dysfunction, but as an opportunity to discredit democracy itself, and to promote China’s authoritarian model as a superior alternative.

The CCP's tactics, honed through years of “united front” (统一战线) ideology, are sophisticated and comprehensive. This strategy is about influencing public opinion to build alliances or sow seeds of distrust, often aimed at neutral or disillusioned audiences in foreign countries. By promoting their ideology, they seek to present China’s system as a stable alternative to what they portray as a chaotic democracy. Scholars at the CCP's own institutions are open about their goals: they want to “win people’s hearts” (最大范围赢得理解支持) and gain “the broadest possible support and understanding” (最大范围赢得理解支持) among audiences worldwide.

In practice, this ideological influence spans everything from social media to university campuses to advertising. Platforms like TikTok, Red Note, various university partnerships create direct and indirect channels for promoting subtle messages that align with CCP interests. These aren’t overt advertisements for the CCP, but rather a quiet current, shifting perceptions just enough to challenge trust in American institutions, values, and even democracy itself.

The CCP’s understanding of influence is remarkably pragmatic: “public opinion is politics” (舆论就是政治). This means that if they can shape the way Americans perceive their own society, casting doubt on our unity, resilience, or political processes- they’re halfway to achieving their goals. Through "refined ideological work" (精细化的思想政治工作), they seek to amplify the voices of Americans disillusioned with their own government, hoping these voices might gradually align with a narrative that favors China's stability over our own democratic debate.

And the CCP has been strategic. They haven’t demanded immediate change or sought to turn Americans into pro-China advocates overnight. Instead, they look for rational, influential voices that seem sympathetic or “inclined to understand” (发掘具有知华友华倾向的理性派) their perspective. Even a slight tilt in public opinion, suggesting that authoritarian governance is more effective than democratic discourse- advances their goals.

The risk for the United States is clear. If we continue to overlook the ways in which the CCP capitalizes on our own ideological vulnerabilities, they may gradually succeed in shifting opinions and eroding confidence in democracy, not just within our own borders but on a global stage. Our political and social divisions are not trivial, they’re signs of a system in need of serious self-reflection. But if we ignore the foreign powers that seek to exploit these challenges, we risk letting them define our narrative and project our struggles as failures rather than opportunities for democratic growth.

If we want to resist this, we must recognize our own vulnerabilities. That includes confronting the real issues driving disunity in our politics, our agencies, and our federal-state relations- but doing so with clarity and intention. Ignoring these divisions won’t heal them. But failing to understand how they are being weaponized ensures they will deepen.

This election, and the divisions it reflects, are a turning point. Either we recommit to democratic resilience or we risk allowing our adversaries to define who we are. The CCP is betting on our failure. Let’s prove them wrong.

LJ Eads is a seasoned expert in research intelligence, data analytics, and technology development, currently leading research intelligence initiatives as Director at Parallax Advanced Research Corp. LJ's background includes service as a Space Network Warfare Analyst and SIGINT Analyst in the United States Air Force, where he conducted detailed intelligence analysis and provided critical support to high-level decision-makers. As the founder of Data Abyss, LJ develops innovative big data platforms focused on Chinese science and technology data, empowering intelligence analysts to identify emerging threats and adversary activities.