Excellent question. China has studied the USSR failings deeply. One of the lessons they learned was how the USSR interacted with the west. The Cold War in someways was an easy evolution because there were no Soviet constituents in the west. 1/n https://twitter.com/Naligators/status/1349776029762641921

Compare that to China. They spend vast sums of money (an issue I will return to in a minute) to change opinion and compromise individuals who would be otherwise less inclined to speak positively. Wall Street. Tech. Academia. Press. On and on and on China is using a massive 2/n

Flow of money to influence these and other sectors. Importantly, China does not even need these people to give a full throated pro-CCP defense they just need them to be wishy washy. That's a win for the CCP. Look at todays Asia Society oped: yes, there are 3/n

Some human rights issues, but the US should make a deal on Huawei and other things hoping China will reciprocate. That's a CCP win. Look at academia: hard science professors get funding for research that increases security on Uyghurs in concentration camps and 4/n

Politial science professors urge engagement because they receive funding and visas even though this strategy is a complete abysmal failure. It doesn't have to be full throated CCP advocacy merely bad strategies looking the other way in return for access and funding 5/n

Then look at the money. People say I don't take CCP money. Really? Yale China Center for Engagement and Ear Plugging is funded by Alibaba money. Is that CCP money? They certainly aren't elevating hawks. Tung Chee Wha a major CCP guy funds all kinds of things in the US 6/n

And not coincidentally all these places are very wishy washy because there are lots of constituent bases that now have a vested interest in CCP via proxy money. Part of what makes the CCP so challenging an adversary is they are much better are playing to peoples weaknesses: 7/n

Money and sex. Everyone laughs at Neil Bush for his hooker in the hotel room story but there are credible stories about academics and journalists alike not to mention individuals from business and politics. China is building a constituency that does not want to lose the perks.