elite capture

noun

The careful and patient cultivation, by Chinese agents, of goodwill among high-ranking individuals in foreign countries to promote the aims of the Chinese Communist Party.

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Meanings

nounelite capture (usually uncountable, plural elite captures)

plural elite captures

  1. uncountableusuallyThe careful and patient cultivation, by Chinese agents, of goodwill among high-ranking individuals in foreign countries to promote the aims of the Chinese Communist Party.

    These agents aim to subtly and slowly make key figures amenable to the aims of the CCP in a long-term operation often referred to as elite capture.

    2025 April 4, Anna Lamche and Sean Coughlan, Secret papers reveal new details about Andrew's ties to Chinese 'spy', BBC News

Origin

From elite + capture.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

elite capture. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elite%20capture

MLA

“elite capture.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elite%20capture. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elite capture,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elite%20capture.

Source: elite capture on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.