These tactics, within the context of #CCP-backed influence operations, aren't new. However, the intent to dive deeper into the American culture wars and conversations around race and discrimination in a more nuanced manner is a break from the past.
In Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and even allegedly here in the US, CCP has backed protests and demonstrations against issues perceived as national strategic priorities by leaders in Beijing. The best-alleged example is the 2008 Olympic Torch protests in SF.
Then SF Mayor, @GavinNewsom, was alleged told by a PRC envoy to clamp down on anti-China protests against the Olympic Torch relay thru to the city. Mayor Newsom refused.
So Chinese authorities allegedly orchestrated counter-protests which were duplicated worldwide:
Similarly, during the lead-up to the 2016 US Presidential Election, Russian state-backed troll farms also waded into the American culture wars by organizing opposing protests on Facebook in Houston around Muslims.
It appears that this disinfo and influence network spread across YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, had taken a page from the Russian 2016 playbook. Though success is relative, it does demonstrate the PRC has the resources to continue these kinds of ops.
Speaking of major #NATO allies with federal elections this month, last Thursday's 🇨🇦Canadian🇨🇦 Leaders Debate featured a robust several minute long rebuttal by opposition party leaders of PM @JustinTrudeau's handling of Sino-Canadian Relations.