South Korea presidential ouster part of Chinese strategy to 'expand its regional influence,' expert says

An expert and backers of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol say China has been interfering in South Korea politics and Yoon's removal will boost pro-Beijing allies as part of a broader regional power play.

Mahjar-Barducci claimed the CCP has used "overt economic cooperation, political donations, covert benefit transfers and even illegal sexual bribery" to cultivate "certain South Korean political figures over time, aiming to undermine the U.S.-South Korea alliance, weaken South Korea’s strategic independence and expand its regional influence at the expense of the U.S."  Beth Bailey is a reporter covering Afghanistan, the Middle East, Asia, and Central America. She was formerly a civilian intelligence analyst with the Department of the Army. You can follow Beth on Twitter @BWBailey85

Mahjar-Barducci also claimed that one Korean activist who spoke to her on Friday told her that election fraud in South Korea had been organized in cooperation with China, whose government had unduly influenced the past two general elections.