The theme of your reply could be applied to US (& other) tech giants. They are government supported, over such as the internet by DARPA (MITI did the same in Japan). Plus in other ways Corporates such as Amazon, and other FANGs pay for influence in the US capital.

Further “ China’s strategy to scale global tech companies to influence global affairs is being monitored closely” as are Google etc who were recently fined again in Europe.

And before them the British Council.

My problem with such articles is the focus on one particular nation & omission that such is part and parcel of modern economic warfare.