Discussion Among Democratic Socialists of America on China Relations

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), under the leadership of New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani, recently talked about building connections with Chinese Communist Party officials, as well as adjusting their messaging to steer clear of topics deemed “sensitive” by China. This was revealed in internal meeting minutes reported on Tuesday.

Newsweek examined various documents from as far back as 2021, which included minutes from meetings and details about trips to China. These documents highlighted discussions centered on lobbying Chinese officials and promoting pro-Beijing initiatives which participants referred to as “anti-imperialist.”

At a DSA China working group meeting on October 8, a political activist noted, “China wants to work with the DSA. Create a great two-week itinerary, hire locals, and deepen your connection with the CPC. Then we will be golden.”

The minutes illustrated how members encouraged pursuing contacts linked to China’s ruling party but advised against triggering sensitive issues for Beijing, such as the possibility of an invasion of Taiwan, security measures in Hong Kong, and the treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

According to Newsweek, although no Chinese officials were present at the meeting itself, they did engage with American attendees in China, promoting “official exchanges.” This included a visit to Guizhou province in August 2025, where Communist Party School staff welcomed visitors.

Internal conversations appreciated the advice from Code Pink to “stay out of the weeds” regarding sensitive matters related to China. Interestingly, the minutes also recorded a claim made at a 2021 conference, suggesting that the reported “atrocities in Xinjiang” were exaggerated, despite acknowledging the existence of “one million Uyghurs.”

Newsweek also noted that neither the DSA International Committee nor Mamdani’s office in New York responded to requests for comments. Notably, Mamdani hasn’t been documented as attending any of the relevant meetings under discussion.

When asked about the DSA’s connections with the Chinese Communist Party, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, stated that “regional exchanges and cooperation” are vital to China-U.S. relations.

The DSA’s national leadership publicly celebrated Mamdani’s electoral success, highlighting the contributions of NYC-DSA members as campaign staff and volunteers.