Hauke Hillebrandt

Nov 2025 · Inkhaven

China’s Shadow war vs the West

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China has joined Russia's Shadow War against the West to reduce Western influence, reshape the global order in favor of the CCP, and achieve geopolitical objectives like annexing Taiwan.[1]

Here's a select list of how China is waging its shadow war against the West:

  1. Coordination with Russia: Traditionally, China had focused on domestic control and targeting its diaspora, but it is now learning from Russia to more effectively target the West. Chinese meddling is still less aggressive than Russia's, but they now coordinate on disinformation (a 2021 leak suggests ministerial-level agreement on information cooperation between Russian and Chinese state media). For instance, Chinese state media pushes Russian conspiracies (e.g., US biolabs in Ukraine), while Russian outlets recycle Chinese disinformation (e.g., CIA-engineered Taiwan 2024 election) and China's 'Spamouflage' network is using Russian-style influence tactics by imitating the US far right. [2] [3] 
  2. Information and Cognitive Warfare to interfere with elections and politics: Sophisticated foreign information manipulation and interference campaigns use AI-enhanced content to sow social division, amplify conspiracy theories, and significantly influence democratic processes, including the 2024 US elections 7 and the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections.[4] 
  3. Infiltration of Western Political Circles: Beyond elections, China tries to penetrate and influence Western governments from within. Chinese spies routinely target officials in sensitive positions (politics, defense, business) to steal secrets and to engage in 'elite capture,' using tactics like bribery and funding policy groups to influence Western policy (e.g. Chinese spies working as UK[5] and EU[6] parliamentary researchers as well as California city council campaigners for a PRC-backed candidate[7] were arrested recently). Other charges against Chinese agents involve lobbying, harassment, bribing an IRS employee, and intimidating US-based Chinese dissidents, such as a former New York governor's aide secretly promoting China's interests.[8]
  4. Physical attacks and Cyberware against Western critical infrastructure: In Europe, Chinese ships have cut cables in the Baltic.[9] Chinese cyberattacks have become more ambitious and more common.[10] In 2024, China cyber-espionage attacks increased by 150%.[11] China has advanced beyond mere spying and theft; it's preparing for major cyber disruptions and has pre-positioned malware to threaten Western critical infrastructure (e.g. water systems, electricity, pipelines, naval ports, utilities, internet providers, etc) and could enable remote sabotage of facilities supporting Western military operations.[12] 
  5. Espionage: China hacked the US telecom wiretap mechanism.[13] Chinese hacking groups reportedly used Microsoft SharePoint cyberattacks to breach over 50 organizations, including the US National Nuclear Security Administration.[14] In 2024, the West busted a massive Chinese tech spying network with 260,000 internet-connected cameras, routers and other devices that were used to spy on sensitive organizations.[15] A Chinese firm at one point bought Grindr, the gay dating app, to access highly sensitive personal data from millions of users creating ongoing blackmail and espionage risks for US government and military personnel.[16]
  6. Political and Intelligence Subversion and interference, and transnational repression on a global scale:11 China has ~100 illegal 'overseas police stations' in 53 countries used to track dissidents on the sovereign soil of Western nations to intimidate and silence its diaspora.13 Chinese homework apps are dominating US download charts. The international versions are optimized for cheating—offering free, instant, and monetized answers—while Chinese versions focus on genuine education.[17] 

Notes

[1] China Is Joining Russia’s Shadow War on Europe | American Enterprise Institute - AEI 

[2] Russia and China hitting Western democracies with 'massive digital arsenals' says EU | Fortune Europe 

[3] China’s ‘MAGAflage’ election interference is about more than 2024 

[4] Canada spies found China interfered in last two elections, probe hears | Reuters 

[5]  UK drops case against two men accused of spying for China | Reuters 

[6] Ex-aide to top AfD politician jailed for spying for China | Reuters 

[7] California campaign manager arrested and charged as Chinese agent - The Washington Post 

[8] California campaign manager arrested and charged as Chinese agent - The Washington Post 

[9] Chinese vessel under investigation after 2 data cables found cut in the Baltic Sea : NPR 

[10] Cyber spying on the rise, EU agency warns – POLITICO 

[11] 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report: China’s Cyber Espionage Surges 150% with Increasingly Aggressive Tactics, Weaponization of AI-powered Deception Rises 

[12] Typhoons in Cyberspace | Royal United Services Institute 

[13] China Possibly Hacking US "Lawful Access" Backdoor - Schneier on Security 

[14] US nuclear weapons agency reportedly breached in Microsoft SharePoint attacks | The Verge 

[15] U.S. and allies seize control of massive Chinese tech spying network - The Washington Post 

[16] Exclusive: Behind Grindr's doomed hookup in China, a data misstep and scramble to make up | Reuters 

[17] Cheating Apps