10 ways you might not realize, the People’s Republic of China is pulling strings in ways that touch almost every corner of your everyday routine. Whether you’re scrolling through short‑video clips, buying the latest gadget, or simply paying taxes, Chinese influence is quietly woven into the fabric of modern life. Below we break down the ten most eye‑opening ways the communist regime is steering the world – and you – from behind the scenes.
10 ways you are being shaped without even noticing
10 China Owns Tik‑Tok
Fact: Tik‑Tok Is Owned By China
Tik‑Tok burst onto the scene in 2017 and has since become a cultural juggernaut, captivating millions of young people worldwide with its endless stream of bite‑size videos. Even if you never download the app, you’ve probably heard friends or family rave about it, and the statistics back that up: by the end of 2019 the platform had already been downloaded more than 80 million times in the United States alone.
Because the app is headquartered in China, U.S. officials have branded it a national‑security concern after a deep‑dive by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The investigation highlighted Tik‑Tok’s ability to pinpoint the locations and activities of American service members who use the service. Even more disquieting, the biometric data collected by Tik‑Tok is reportedly shared freely with the Chinese government, which dominates the nation’s cyber‑industry. In short, if you’ve ever opened Tik‑Tok, there’s a strong chance a Chinese official has a record of that interaction.
9 China Owns Reddit
Fact: Reddit Is A Vehicle Of Chinese Propaganda
Reddit, while based in the United States, is not immune to foreign influence. In February 2019 the platform raised $300 million in a financing round, and a major chunk of that cash came from Tencent Holdings Ltd., the massive Chinese internet conglomerate. The deal sparked an uproar among Reddit users, many of whom were alarmed by China’s strict policies that suppress content deemed offensive or politically sensitive – from footage of the Tiananmen Square protests to even the occasional meme of Winnie the Pooh, which has been censored for its perceived resemblance to President Xi Jinping.
Reddit confirmed that Tencent contributed $150 million, a sum that would be hard to secure without some level of sway. China’s expertise in cyber‑defense and its world‑renowned propaganda machine mean the platform has become a hotspot for Chinese‑operated troll farms, colloquially known as “chinabots.” The site’s most pro‑Trump subreddit, The_Donald, was eventually quarantined, while pro‑communist subreddits continue to operate with minimal interference.
8 China Owns Hollywood
Fact: Chinese Influence On American Cinema Is All About The Benjamins
If you’ve noticed an uptick in blockbuster films featuring gargantuan robots, endless explosions, and over‑the‑top fight scenes, thank the Chinese box‑office. The Chinese movie‑going public has a voracious appetite for high‑octane action, and their ticket sales now constitute a massive share of global film revenue. This financial muscle has reshaped Hollywood’s calculus: studios pour millions into productions that promise to dazzle Chinese audiences, even if domestic critics cringe.
The result? Franchises like Transformers have thrived thanks largely to Chinese ticket sales, allowing producers like Michael Bay to keep cranking out sequels despite lukewarm reception at home. In essence, the Chinese market’s deep pockets have become a decisive factor in what movies get green‑lit, steering the creative direction of American cinema toward spectacles that guarantee box‑office gold across the Pacific.
7 Global Power
Fact: China Is Quickly Becoming A Global Power
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the United States has long been viewed as the world’s sole superpower. China, however, is charting a different course – not through military invasions, but by flexing economic muscle. In 1990 China’s share of the global economy was a modest 2 percent; by 2014 that figure had ballooned to 13 percent, and the upward trajectory has continued.
By 2018 China had vaulted into the position of the world’s second‑largest economy, trailing only the United States with a GDP of roughly $13.6 trillion. This surge has placed China ahead of traditional powerhouses such as Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. One tangible impact on the average American is that a sizeable slice of U.S. Treasury debt is now held by China, meaning a portion of every tax dollar you pay ends up servicing Chinese‑owned bonds.
6 Goodbye Free Speech
Fact: The Chinese Government Has Limited American Free Speech
While the First Amendment guarantees Americans the right to speak freely, the Chinese government has found ways to exert pressure on that liberty abroad. In late 2019, massive protests erupted in Hong Kong over Beijing’s tightening grip, prompting a wave of solidarity statements from Western public figures. One such voice was Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey, who tweeted a graphic urging support for Hong Kong.
China reacted swiftly, threatening to curb NBA broadcasts on its networks – a move that would have cost the league billions in revenue. The NBA initially issued an apology to appease Beijing, sparking outrage among U.S. lawmakers who accused the league of bowing to foreign pressure. Though Morey’s tweet was never censored, the incident highlighted how Chinese economic leverage can indirectly shape the contours of free expression in the United States.
5 Military Focus
Fact: China’s Push Towards Becoming A Superpower Has Shifted The West’s Military Focus
China’s meteoric rise as an economic titan has reverberated through global defense budgets. While the United States and China are not openly hostile, both nations are preparing for potential competition over the Pacific. A key flashpoint is the South China Sea, where China has been constructing artificial islands to extend its territorial claims.
These geopolitical tensions have prompted the U.S. to recalibrate its own military posture. The United States now spends roughly $680 billion annually on defense, while China’s defense budget sits around $175 billion, a figure that continues to climb. Training exercises, wargames, and procurement decisions increasingly feature Chinese scenarios, driving up costs and reshaping the strategic priorities of Western armed forces.
4 Raw Materials
Fact: China Has Most Of The World’s Rare Earth Elements… And You Need Them!
Rare‑earth elements – the critical minerals that power everything from smartphone cameras to solar panels – are notoriously difficult to mine and even trickier to process. China dominates this niche, accounting for more than 95 percent of global production and processing capacity. This monopoly grants Beijing outsized leverage over a host of high‑tech industries worldwide.
The United States shut down its sole rare‑earth processing plant in the early 2000s, leaving the nation heavily dependent on Chinese supplies. As demand for these materials has exploded alongside the rise of advanced electronics, electric aircraft, and modern weaponry, America’s reliance on Beijing’s rare‑earth output has become a strategic vulnerability.
3 Made In China
Fact: Most Of The Products We Use Are Manufactured In China
There’s a running joke that everything you own was made in China. While not 100 percent accurate, the claim isn’t far off – a sizable chunk of consumer goods sold in the United States are either produced or assembled on Chinese soil. Companies chase Chinese factories because labor is abundant, inexpensive, and the regulatory environment is far less stringent than in the West.
Many products are designed in the U.S. but shipped in parts to China for assembly before returning to American shelves. This model applies to a wide spectrum of items, but perhaps the most iconic example is Apple’s iPhone, which is largely assembled in Chinese factories. So, if you’re scrolling this article on an iPhone, you’re already benefiting – and indirectly supporting – Chinese manufacturing.
2 Google Kowtows To China
Fact: China’s Influence Over Google May Become Problematic
Google has long championed the principle of free speech, but the search‑engine giant has quietly begun courting Beijing. In May 2018 the company excised the iconic “Don’t be evil” mantra from its corporate code of conduct, a move that raised eyebrows about its shifting values. Simultaneously, Google started work on a censored search project code‑named “Dragonfly,” intended to comply with China’s strict internet regulations.
While China has historically blocked Google services behind its infamous “Great Firewall,” the tech titan now appears eager to tap into the country’s massive online market of over 800 million users. If Google proceeds with Dragonfly, the result could be a version of the world’s most popular search engine that filters results in line with Beijing’s censorship policies – a development that could have ripple effects for users worldwide.
1 Chinese Hackers
Fact: Chinese Hackers Have Probably Hacked You At Least Once
When it comes to cyber‑espionage, China fields a formidable army of hackers – estimates range from 50 000 to 100 000 skilled operators. While Western nations focus on defensive measures, Beijing has been quietly building a sophisticated offensive capability, targeting everything from corporate trade secrets to everyday consumer apps.
It’s highly likely that your personal information has been compromised by Chinese cyber‑actors at some point, whether through a data breach on an e‑commerce site or a malicious app you’ve installed. The sheer scale of China’s hacking operations means that even ordinary internet users are exposed to potential espionage, making digital privacy an increasingly precarious commodity.
About The Author: Jonathan is a graphic artist, illustrator, and writer. He is a retired soldier and enjoys researching and writing about history, science, theology, and many other subjects.