American Thought Leaders – The Many Hidden Fronts of CCP Unrestricted Warfare | Casey Fleming
The Epoch Times | March 21, 2026
Guest: Casey Fleming (CEO, BlackOps Partners; Author, The Red Tsunami)
Host: Janja Kellogg

Episode Overview

This episode explores the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) strategy of “unrestricted warfare” as described by Casey Fleming, CEO of BlackOps Partners and author of The Red Tsunami. Fleming argues the CCP is waging a covert, multifaceted war against the U.S. and the free world using over 100 non-military methods intended to weaken America from within—across social, economic, technological, and cultural fronts. This is a “war unlike any other,” penetrating into the everyday lives of Americans, targeting their minds, institutions, families, and critical infrastructure. Janja Kellogg facilitates a deep-dive into these threats and Fleming’s advocacy for national vigilance and personal action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Defining Unrestricted Warfare (02:11–03:35)

• Unrestricted warfare is war that targets civilians rather than the military and aims to erode the will and ability of a society to resist—"focused on the people, not the military."
• There are “no rules”—CCP sees all means (biological, economic, information, psychological) as fair game (02:28).

“Everything is game. Any type of murder, maiming, harming, is absolutely part of the game. In fact, it’s celebrated from our enemy.” – Casey Fleming (02:34)

The “Red Tsunami”: What Is It? (03:01–03:35)

• Fleming’s term for the CCP’s global encroachment: "The Red Tsunami is the Chinese Communist Party as it's overtaking the Western world and the United States."
• The “people’s war” is fought on over 100 fronts, always focused on weakening societies from within.

Cognitive and Biological Warfare (04:05–06:36)

• Cognitive warfare targets the developing minds of children via social media (e.g. TikTok), undermining critical thinking, family values, and cultural cohesion.

“It’s completely erasing their ability for cognitive and critical thinking and replacing families and family values with communist values.” (04:37)

• AI and Apps: Even AI and various apps are vectors for manipulation, shaping information and narratives in ways that serve CCP interests (05:11–05:35).

Fleming’s Background & Approach (06:36–09:51)

• Entered this field via cybersecurity and economic espionage cases; traced all major threats back to the CCP over the past ~20 years.
• BlackOps Partners has advised Fortune 500s, Congress, and national security agencies—regularly forecasting threats before they hit mainstream awareness.

Case Study: COVID-19, Bioweapons & Social Upheaval (10:05–12:35)

• Fleming claims his team identified COVID-19 as a weaponized bioweapon early in 2020, relying on open-source intelligence and prior knowledge of CCP bioweapon research.

“We absolutely knew it was a weaponized bioweapon. We absolutely knew it with all of our intelligence…” (10:13)

• The rapid emergence of Marxist and socialist social movements in America post-pandemic (“all part of the same train, the same communist train”) was a profound shock even for Fleming.

Media Narratives and Suppression (12:36–13:14)

• Discusses mainstream media avoidance of CCP origins theories regarding the pandemic, reflecting “the level of infiltration, subversion, and power” of the CCP in U.S. institutions.

Why Focus on the CCP? (14:51–17:51)

• Fleming insists the CCP is “the grand puppeteer” behind Russia, Iran, North Korea, drug cartels, and others, coordinating to undermine American society.
• He frames the current situation in extreme terms:

“You’re either free under freedom or you’re under communism. That’s it.” (16:29) “We’re in the fourth quarter, two minutes left and no timeouts.” (15:05)

• Socialism, Marxism, and democratic socialism are called “just other words for communism.”

Historical & Ideological Roots of International Communism (17:51–21:04)

• Communism is fundamentally globalist and expansionist—it cannot coexist with democracy or freedom, as “they’re like oil and water.”
• The irreconcilability of communism and freedom means one must eventually eliminate the other in global terms.

Concrete Methods/Verticals of Unrestricted Warfare (22:40–29:01)

1. Biological Attacks

• COVID and potential future bioweapons; mystery biolabs with concerning links.

“Covid is a biological weapon... What about Covid 2? What about Covid 3?... [the enemy] weaponizes everything against the West.” (22:41–23:26)

2. Drug/Fentanyl Warfare

• Fentanyl from China (via cartels in Mexico) kills ~150,000 yearly, especially military-aged Americans—a “never-ending World War II” (24:42–26:31).

“That’s the equivalent of two 737s going down every single day.” (25:00)

3. Cognitive/Infrastructural Attacks

• Social media and apps (TikTok) gather and transmit personal data, facilitate propaganda, and (allegedly) are tools for crime and human trafficking.

“TikTok is cognitive war. A weapon of war.” (24:42)

• Notably, Fleming alleges TikTok data has facilitated human trafficking with cartel collusion (detailed example at 29:01).

Human Trafficking via TikTok: Case Example (29:01–31:35)

• Details a case in Southern California involving the abduction of two girls via TikTok’s data and cartel cooperation.

“They were lured away and they were taken and put into human trafficking. And that’s all been tracked through TikTok and social media.” (29:13)

Technological & Critical Infrastructure Threats (41:55–44:37)

• CCP-made hardware (solar panels, transformers, EVs, wind turbines) could contain kill switches or surveillance capabilities, exposing the grid and transportation to sabotage.

“You have to assume it’s weaponized against the enemy, which is us... they can shut down the Internet, water, electricity, natural gas, pipelines, all those things to cripple us…” (42:52) “All the EVs... are espionage vehicles and they can be shut down at a moment’s notice.” (44:01)

Economic & Industrial Espionage (44:38–47:05)

• Extensive IP theft: CCP’s disregard for international law enables rapid catch-up in advanced industries via stolen American innovation.

“Solar panels were 100% US innovation. Now you can’t get a solar panel unless it’s manufactured in China with kill switches or fire starting switches…” (44:40)

Military Civil Fusion (47:06–48:07)

• Describes how all Chinese commercial tech is fused with military strategy; “military-civil fusion” ensures all commercial innovation serves CCP military dominance (47:15).

Complete Societal Control: Social Credit & Surveillance (48:58–53:06)

• Details life under the CCP: 700+ million AI-managed surveillance cameras, social credit system, and total state control—all enabled by technology, much originally from the U.S.

“They manage every bit of your life. And then they have an app that’s a social credit app... your kids to report you to the Chinese government for you doing wrong things.” (51:05)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Casey Fleming

• “[Unrestricted warfare is] focused on the people, not military... there are no rules from the enemy.” (02:13)
• “The Red Tsunami is the Chinese Communist Party as it’s overtaking the Western world and the United States.” (03:01)
• “It’s completely erasing their ability for cognitive and critical thinking and replacing families and family values with communist values.” (04:37)
• “Fentanyl... about 150,000 [deaths] a year... It’s the equivalent of World War II never ending.” (24:42–25:43)
• “[TikTok]... is recording your kids’ geolocation... facial scans... what they buy... We have evidence the Chinese Communist Party has given that documentation to the Mexican cartels to introduce or to kidnap young girls for human trafficking.” (24:42–25:43)
• “You have the same power to kill the brain and to kill that person as a 9 millimeter.” (31:16)
• “Anything that can be weaponized, likely is. That’s the baseline assumption.” (44:24)
• “Whoever wins this war… will own the planet for the next 2000 years. It will either be all free or it will be communist.” (54:17)

Janja Kellogg

• “It’s like a death match between communism and free society. Of course, the free society doesn’t view it that way… but the communist view is… you’re an affront to our success.” (20:41)

Notable Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Key Content | |--------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:11–03:35 | Defining unrestricted warfare and “Red Tsunami” | Fleming explains non-military, society-focused CCP strategy | | 04:05–06:36 | Cognitive war, social media, AI manipulation | Impact on youth, technology as a weapon | | 10:05–12:35 | Fleming’s COVID-19 bioweapon thesis, CCP tactics | Early identification, link to broader CCP objectives | | 14:51–17:51 | Why CCP is the central enemy | CCP’s coordination with global state/non-state actors | | 22:40–29:01 | Concrete examples: biolabs, fentanyl, TikTok | Real-world impacts, human trafficking example | | 41:55–44:37 | Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities | Risk to U.S. grid, transportation, tech-enabled sabotage | | 48:58–53:06 | CCP’s total surveillance & social credit | Life under CCP, implications for freedom | | 54:17 | Stakes framed: “final war for the planet” | Urgency, ideological clarity |

“The Red Tsunami” as Survival Guide (38:29–40:30)

• Fleming intends his book as a whistleblower exposé and practical manual.
• Offers ~20 recommendations for action, e.g.:
  • Stop buying Chinese products/services
  • Review investment portfolios for China exposure
  • Delete invasive apps; protect children from screen/internet manipulation

“If you’re buying Chinese products and services, it’s on you... that $17 top from Shein probably isn’t worth it...” (39:17)

Concluding Perspective: The Mosaic Effect (41:20–53:29)

• Americans and other free people often miss the complete picture due to “the mosaic effect”—isolated news stories without connection.
• The Red Tsunami seeks to connect the dots, emphasizing that “normal” will not return—society is already in the throes of World War III, just not with tanks and guns.

Final Takeaways

• CCP’s “unrestricted warfare” constitutes a holistic, existential threat to American society, using economic, technological, social, and psychological means.
• Awareness, vigilance, and personal/civic action are imperative; Fleming argues urgent, sweeping changes are needed to counter the CCP threat, from consumer behavior to national policy.
• All means—biological, informational, economic—are seen by the CCP as legitimate fronts for “winning without fighting” (Sun Tzu).
• The outcome in the next ten years, Fleming insists, will define whether freedom or communism prevails globally.

Further Reading / Resources

• The Red Tsunami by Casey Fleming (for the detailed mosaic and survival guide).
• Related reporting on CCP’s “unrestricted warfare,” fentanyl trafficking, TikTok controversies, and cybersecurity threats from The Epoch Times and open-source intelligence.

(End of summary)