WASHINGTON (TNND) — A federal grand jury in Manhattan has been impaneled to investigate Neville Roy Singham, an American tech billionaire living in China, over allegations that he funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into a network of Marxist, socialist and pro-Beijing activist groups across the United States.
China expert Gordon Chang told The National News Desk the alleged activity fits what he described as the Chinese Communist Party’s “united front” strategy. (TNND)
The Department of Justice investigation is focused on allegations that money moved through groups including Code Pink and the People’s Forum, among others. Critics say the organizations push narratives that defend the Chinese Communist Party and fuel protests aimed at advancing a critical perspective on China.
China expert Gordon Chang told The National News Desk the alleged activity fits what he described as the Chinese Communist Party’s “united front” strategy.
“Clearly, the Communist Party wants to subvert the United States, and Singham has been a useful tool for this,” Chang said.
Chang said he believes Singham has coordinated activities with the United Front Work Department, which Chang described as “the portion of the Communist Party that subverts foreign countries.” Chang said Singham has promoted “socialism and communism,” and also worked to oppose data centers, including through his wife, Jody Evans, whom Chang identified as a co-founder of Code Pink.
Chang said the investigation should also examine whether Singham complied with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
“It’s not just a question of moving money illicitly,” Chang said. “It’s also that he is has not registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act Fara. So that should be investigated as well.”
Chang also warned that China’s information operations have grown larger and more sophisticated, while the United States has done too little to counter them.
He said, “What we have seen is a Communist party that has the very large, information network. The largest in the world is becoming extremely sophisticated. It’s becoming very effective.”
Chang pointed to social media as one avenue for influence, citing TikTok as an example.
He said, “We certainly see, China through TikTok, for instance, promoted narratives.” He also cited a study he said found “96.5% of the videos on Hamas supported the terrorist group,” and said TikTok also carried videos supporting “Russia’s narrative on Ukraine.” Chang said, “This is just not organic. This is the directed from the Communist Party.”
In addition to the grand jury investigation into alleged funding, Chang addressed claims that Singham-linked groups have helped block more than $23 billion in American AI data center and infrastructure projects. Chang said some opposition is local, but not all of it is organic.
“We know that a lot of data opposition to data groups is just people who don’t want it in their backyards,” Chang said. “But these protests are not entirely organic.”
Chang said he supports the Justice Department’s investigation, arguing that some funding is being concealed.
“I’m very happy that the Justice Department is investigating this, because a lot of this money is coming in in illicit ways, in ways which the Communist Party is trying to hide,” Chang said.
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