ACTION ALERT:
China Is Not Our Enemy: Consider Us Guilty
CODEPINK
(October 1, 2026) — Did you know there was a special Congressional hearing about us?
It’s true. Over the course of CODEPINK history, Congress has consistently attempted to de-legitimize our work by spreading ridiculous lies about our purpose and motivation.
Matthew Johnson, senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, spoke in a Fox News interview leading up to his Congressional testimony, calling out our China Is Not Our Enemy campaign for “serving China’s interests” merely because we advocate for peace. In his testimony, he went further, suggesting that any American who promotes cooperation with China also advances positions “useful to Beijing.”
It’s as if he thinks war serves Americans. It doesn’t; it only serves the elite who profit off death and destruction. Americans don’t need China to tell us that war is bad or that diplomacy is preferable. We organize for peace because we believe in peace. And peace serves the interests of all of humanity.
So if advocating for peace is a crime, then consider us guilty!
At a time when the U.S. is escalating its war drive against China and pouring billions more into militarizing the Pacific, we desperately need anti-war and anti-imperialist voices willing to challenge this dangerous trajectory. Peace activism is one of the most important checks on endless U.S. militarism, and silencing those voicesonly makes the march to war easier and faster.
TO: MATTHEW JOHNSON
Stop Criminalizing Peace Activism!
A Note from Megan
When I watched Matthew Johnson’s Fox News interview, all I could think about were the countless people across the U.S. and around the world who make up our China Is Not Our Enemy community. On our China Working Group call this week, one member said how much they love the humanity of our group, and I couldn’t agree more. The people I have met through this campaign are some of the most selfless, thoughtful, and courageous people I know. They stand fiercely for the wellbeing of people far beyond their own borders, and they put in the work to read, study, ask questions, and learn about China so that they can challenge misinformation and help others understand why China is not our enemy.
These are the very people Matthew Johnson is talking about when he describes independent Americans who advocate for peace with China. They are teachers, organizers, students, researchers, retirees, parents, and activists who have chosen to spend their time building understanding between peoples rather than fear between nations. They are people who have contributed so much time and effort to working toward a better world and brighter future for all.
There is something deeply revealing about where this accusation comes from. Johnson works within institutions whose structures are inseparable from the U.S. war economy, while many of the people he is criticizing work outside the institutions of power, challenging the assumptions that make endless military expansion seem normal. We should be asking whose voices are routinely amplified when billions of dollars are being poured into militarization, and whose voices are dismissed when they call for peace.
In the blood-soaked imperial core, it is always going to be the people speaking on behalf of the people. So let us continue to raise up the voices of these activists and spread the message of peace and humanity. Thank you to all who continue to do this work, even in the face of mounting political pressure. You are seen, appreciated, and dearly loved.
News and Analysis
👉 The U.S. says AI safety matters, unless it benefits China. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that the AI industry may be moving faster than its safety measures can keep up. President Trump spoke out against slowing development, saying, “Whoever wins with AI wins,” while arguing that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its technological edge over China. Rather than turning AI into another front in a U.S.-China arms race, the U.S. should be working with China on global safety standards to prevent any catastrophic risk.
👉 Following his meeting with President Xi Jinping, Trump continues to hold a reported $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, which he has described as a “very good negotiating chip.” This is the perfect representation of the two-faced nature of U.S. policy toward China, which pursues “negotiations” while simultaneously arming Taiwan and expanding preparations for a potential war in the Pacific.
👉 At the 18th BRICS summit this month, Xi Jinping called for stronger cooperation among Global South countries. He urged BRICS members to defend sovereign equality, non-interference and the peaceful settlement of disputes, while calling for reforms to international institutions to give developing countries a greater voice.
