The CCP's Digital Onslaught: How China Targets American Officials Who Demand Accountability

The Coordinated Campaign Against Democratic Processes

In a disturbing development that should alarm every American committed to democratic principles, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway became the target of a sophisticated disinformation campaign likely originating from China. The campaign emerged just one week after Attorney General Hanaway announced her intention to seize $24 billion worth of Chinese assets as compensation for COVID-19 damages suffered by Missouri citizens. According to investigators at social media analytics company Graphika, this was not organic criticism but a coordinated operation involving 105 inauthentic pro-China accounts on X (formerly Twitter).

The timing and nature of these attacks reveal a carefully orchestrated effort to discredit an American official performing her constitutional duties. The accounts, many created specifically for this purpose in November and December, displayed gaming or animation-related profile pictures, had few followers, and used randomly generated handles—classic hallmarks of inauthentic activity. Most concerningly, the posting patterns showed sharp drops during weekends and China’s Golden Week holiday in early October, suggesting commercial actors operating during Chinese business hours were behind this manipulation campaign.

Legal Context and Missouri’s Pursuit of Justice

The backdrop to this digital assault is Missouri’s legitimate legal pursuit of accountability for COVID-19 damages. In late 2020, the state of Missouri filed a lawsuit against China for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In March, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh awarded Missouri $24 billion after China failed to defend itself in the lawsuit. Judge Limbaugh’s ruling detailed how China concealed COVID-19’s true nature while stockpiling protective gear, causing Missouri significant tax revenue losses and increased costs for protective equipment.

The judgment stands against multiple Chinese entities: the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, several national agencies, provincial and local governments around Wuhan, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Attorney General Hanaway has formally requested the U.S. State Department notify China that Missouri intends to pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership to satisfy this judgment—a completely legitimate exercise of legal rights within America’s judicial system.

The Disturbing Pattern of Foreign Interference

What makes this case particularly alarming is the shift in targeting patterns identified by Graphika intelligence analyst Margot Hardy. While China-linked actors typically target Chinese dissidents or exiles in the U.S., this campaign marks a dangerous escalation toward targeting specific American officials at the local level. This represents a sophisticated and targeted approach to undermining American democracy where it operates—in our states and communities.

The accounts involved in this campaign have previously promoted other pro-China positions, including calling for lifting bans on Huawei and portraying the U.S. as “scam-friendly” and an “empire of espionage.” The poor English quality in some posts—misusing pronouns for Hanaway and misspelling her name—suggests the use of auto-translation tools, further indicating foreign origin. This activity demonstrates how pro-China actors respond to criticism of Beijing or calls for COVID-19 accountability by attempting to discredit individuals rather than engaging in substantive debate.

The Fundamental Threat to Democratic Institutions

This incident represents more than just a smear campaign against one official—it constitutes a direct assault on the very foundations of American democracy. When foreign powers can target state-level officials with impunity for performing their constitutional duties, they undermine the sovereignty of not just individual states but the entire nation. The attempt to silence Attorney General Hanaway through coordinated disinformation attacks strikes at the heart of our democratic processes and the rule of law.

What makes this particularly insidious is the timing and coordination. The campaign emerged precisely when a public official was exercising legal remedies available through America’s justice system—a system built on principles of accountability and transparency. By attempting to discredit Hanaway rather than addressing the substantive legal claims, these actors revealed their contempt for democratic processes and their preference for manipulation over meaningful engagement.

The Broader Implications for National Security

This case should serve as a wake-up call regarding the sophistication and audacity of foreign influence operations targeting American democracy. The fact that China-linked actors feel emboldened to target state officials suggests they perceive minimal risk in such operations. This creates a chilling effect that could deter other officials from pursuing legitimate actions that might draw foreign retaliation—exactly the outcome these campaigns seek to achieve.

The campaign’s failure to gain organic traction on X, according to Graphika’s analysis, offers some reassurance about the resilience of American social media users. However, the mere attempt represents a dangerous precedent. As these operations become more sophisticated and targeted, they threaten to erode public trust in institutions and create divisions where none previously existed.

Standing Firm Against Digital Authoritarianism

Attorney General Hanaway’s response—“We are not threatened by online trolls from China, and remain undeterred in our efforts to seize Chinese assets”—exemplifies the courage and resolve required when facing such attacks. Her commitment to pursuing justice for Missourians despite foreign intimidation tactics deserves commendation and support from across the political spectrum.

This incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat foreign disinformation campaigns targeting American officials and institutions. We must strengthen our digital defenses, enhance public awareness of these tactics, and ensure that those who undertake such operations face meaningful consequences. The response from Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu—that China “will retaliate if necessary”—only reinforces the authoritarian nature of these tactics and the importance of standing firm against them.

Preserving Democratic Integrity in the Digital Age

As we move forward, several principles must guide our response. First, we must unequivocally support officials like Attorney General Hanaway who face foreign retaliation for performing their duties. Second, we need greater transparency and coordination between social media platforms, government agencies, and research organizations like Graphika to identify and counter these operations quickly. Third, we must educate the public about these tactics to build resilience against manipulation.

Most importantly, we must recognize that these attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of authoritarian regimes testing the boundaries of what they can achieve through digital means. The targeting of state-level officials represents an escalation that demands proportional response and heightened vigilance. Our commitment to democratic principles requires that we defend not just against physical threats but against these more subtle attacks on the integrity of our political processes.

Conclusion: A Call to Defend Democratic Values

The coordinated campaign against Attorney General Catherine Hanaway represents a clear and present danger to American democracy. It demonstrates how foreign powers are willing to target officials at all levels of government who dare to hold them accountable. This digital assault on Missouri’s pursuit of justice through proper legal channels cannot be tolerated or normalized.

We must stand united across party lines against these attacks on our sovereignty and democratic institutions. The fight for accountability and transparency must continue undeterred by foreign manipulation campaigns. As Americans committed to freedom, liberty, and the rule of law, we have both the right and the responsibility to demand accountability—whether from domestic actors or foreign governments—and to protect our democratic processes from those who would undermine them through disinformation and intimidation.

The resilience of our democracy depends on our willingness to confront these challenges head-on, support officials who face foreign retaliation, and maintain our commitment to the principles that have made America a beacon of freedom for the world. No amount of online manipulation should ever deter the pursuit of justice through proper legal channels—this is the fundamental principle we must defend now more than ever.