maybe both, but i was just reading the other day about the CCP setting up offices/groups/whatever basically everywhere. even around american colleges though its more low key. many chinese (ethnically, many are not even citizens) overseas join the party because they either worry about problems with relatives in mainland china, or some think itll help their careers, or they may think itll help grease the wheels if and when they return. a lot of them just spend hours studying speeches by xi for their club, apparently.
i think whats more worrying is that ive recently become concious of what i say about china online, and i have no connection at all to china. would it be a problem for me tomorrow? probably not, but 20 years from now? maybe.