China suspected of funding pro-Palestine marches in UK, US probe reveals
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
China has reportedly been suspected of channelling funds to support pro-Palestine marches across the United Kingdom, with US lawmakers now conducting a formal inquiry into alleged covert Chinese backing of protest group Code Pink as part of a broader investigation into foreign interference, according to a report by leading UK daily The Telegraph.
What the Investigation Has Found
The probe, led by the US Congress Ways and Means Committee, is examining alleged payments of £250,000 made to a UK-based firm connected to Code Pink. The funds are said to have originated from companies associated with Neville Roy Singham, a tech entrepreneur accused of financing Chinese propaganda networks globally.
A British firm with ties to Code Pink reportedly received over USD 250,000 from groups allegedly linked to Singham's network in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, an organisation called People's Support Foundation — also suspected of being part of Singham's network — reportedly provided USD 94,950 to the same company for 'consulting services' in 2024.
Who Is Code Pink and What Has It Done in the UK
Code Pink is a far-left feminist protest group originally founded in the United States. In the UK, it has organised demonstrations against Britain's involvement in what it characterises as the 'genocide in Gaza', urging activists to hold protests outside Royal Air Force (RAF) bases. The group has also released statements alleging that UK lawmakers have been 'bought by Zionism', according to The Telegraph.
Code Pink has further coordinated protests outside the Ministry of Defence and the London office of an army company, mobilising its UK activist base for several high-profile demonstrations.
What US Lawmakers Are Saying
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith was quoted by The Telegraph as saying: 'It's clear from the Ways and Means Committee investigation that Singham's money and influence does not stop at America's borders.' Smith stated that the committee knows Singham's funding has been backing pro-Hamas and pro-communist causes not only in the US but in other nations, including the UK.
A congressional source told the newspaper: 'We are aware that China is funding pro-Hamas and leftists in the UK and the US. That is why we are investigating it and will continue to do so.'
The Broader Context: China's Alleged 'Political Warfare'
The investigation comes amid growing concern in Western capitals that Beijing is seeking to exploit socially divisive causes to generate internal tensions in adversarial nations — a strategy critics describe as 'political warfare'. Singham himself has faced multiple investigations over allegations that his network was producing pro-China propaganda on behalf of the communist government in Beijing, according to the report.
This is not the first time Western intelligence communities have flagged alleged Chinese interference in domestic protest movements. The latest probe, however, marks a significant escalation in congressional scrutiny of Beijing's alleged reach into UK civil society.
What Happens Next
The Ways and Means Committee has indicated it will continue its investigation, with congressional sources signalling that the UK dimension of the probe is an active and ongoing focus. Whether British authorities will launch a parallel inquiry remains to be seen, but the report is expected to intensify pressure on both governments to coordinate on foreign-interference monitoring.