How has China built influence networks in American society?

China has established extensive influence networks throughout American society, as evidenced by several key incidents. When the Houston Rockets' GM merely posted support for Hong Kong freedom fighters, China removed Rockets games from streaming services and pulled merchandise from stores, with NBA players like LeBron James criticizing their own colleague. Similarly, when Senator Cotton suggested the coronavirus might have originated from a lab rather than a food market, he faced criticism not just from Chinese officials but also from American media outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, and CNN. These examples demonstrate China's ability to mobilize both foreign and domestic defenders across multiple sectors of American society, extending beyond traditional espionage to widespread influence operations.