The New York Times (NYT) recently conducted an investigation that revealed the role of US tech mogul Neville Roy Singham in promoting Chinese propaganda worldwide. Singham, a self-proclaimed socialist and founder of global technology consultancy ThoughtWorks, has been linked to a network of nonprofits that push Chinese talking points.Singham’s groups have produced YouTube videos that have collectively garnered millions of views. These videos are part of a concerted effort by the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping to engage foreign influencers in disseminating pro-China narratives as independent content.The investigation also found that Singham’s non-profit “People’s Support Foundation” invested at least $450,000 in organizing boot camps for African activists and politicians, where they were fed pro-China messages. This is part of China’s broader strategy to increase its influence in Africa, often outdoing Western countries in terms of resources invested.Singham, who is based in Shanghai, has denied any links to the Chinese government or Communist Party, claiming his actions are guided by his personal beliefs. However, the NYT report suggests that the line between him and China’s propaganda apparatus is blurred. Singham shares office space with the Maku Group, which aims to educate foreigners about China’s global achievements, and has provided nearly $1.8 million in funding to the group.In India, Singham financed the online news outlet NewsClick, which has been accused of echoing Chinese government talking points. The Enforcement Directorate raided NewsClick’s offices in 2021 in connection with alleged foreign remittances totaling Rs 30.51 crore, some of which were linked to Singham and the Chinese state.The NYT investigation has sparked political controversy in India, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur accusing NewsClick of having an “anti-India agenda” and alleging deep links between certain activists, journalists, and China. The findings of the investigation were also mentioned in Parliament, leading to heated debates and adjournments.
