A new report has raised questions about the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) connections to Chinese Communist Party institutions, documenting trips to China, participation in Chinese government-organized events, and public praise for the country’s socialist system.

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The DSA, which reportedly has approximately 120,000 members and seven Democratic candidates running for House seats in November, has advocated replacing capitalism with what it calls “democratic socialism.” Now, an investigation by The Epoch Times has examined the organization’s interactions with Chinese officials and institutions, including activities involving members of its China Working Group.

From The Epoch Times:

A June 2025 video featuring a DSA leader includes the statement that China is “an incredible positive vision of socialism for everyone around the world.” According to Friends of Socialist China’s own materials, a dozen DSA members have signed a statement supporting the “continued survival of Chinese socialism.”

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Speaking generally about how China can build influence over time, McGregor told The Epoch Times: “Beijing doesn’t need to recruit spies or control politicians. Building relationships with people who may eventually help shape American policy can be just as valuable,” he said.

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In October 2025, the DSA publication, Socialist Forum, said Wang and Dee Knight had traveled to China with three other DSA members as a “five-person self-organized delegation.”

The investigation identified several interactions between DSA-affiliated individuals and Chinese institutions. In August 2025, Anlin Wang, a Philadelphia DSA member and coordinator of the organization’s China Working Group, participated in a program in China’s Guizhou Province. Chinese state media identified Wang as a DSA representative at an event hosted by provincial government organizations.

Another DSA member, Dee Knight, described participating in a November 2024 forum in Guizhou organized by the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department and provincial party officials. The event reportedly brought together more than 200 participants from 50 countries, including representatives of political parties, think tanks, businesses, and media organizations.

The connections also extended to the United States. In June 2025, Ahmed Husain, a member of the DSA’s national leadership committee, spoke at a New York City reception welcoming a delegation from Guizhou. According to a DSA-affiliated social media post, Husain discussed the organization’s political activities and praised China’s socialist system.

However, the investigation did not establish that DSA members were acting on behalf of the Chinese government or that Chinese institutions financed their travel. Questions about who organized and paid for the visits remain unanswered.

Former Canadian intelligence official Scott McGregor explained that foreign influence does not necessarily require espionage or direct control. Governments can cultivate relationships with political activists who may eventually influence public opinion or policy. He also distinguished between supporting socialism as a political ideology and promoting the interests of a foreign government.

As socialist organizations become more involved in American politics, these reported connections raise questions about foreign influence and transparency. Let’s pray for discernment among our nation’s leaders, transparency in political organizations, and protection against efforts by foreign governments to improperly influence American public life.

What are your prayers for our nation as questions about foreign influence and political ideology continue to emerge? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Excerpt from The Epoch Times. Photo Credit: Jeff_Hu/Getty Images Signature via Canva Business)