[quote=@DepressedSoviet]
[@Dinh AaronMk]Well, I'm going for a Puppet-Front of Communist/Chinese Sympathizers, set up via supplies shipped in clandestinely through Cuba, basically taking orders from the Chinese government, with the goal of taking the USA, converting it to a puppet ally of the Chinese state.
[/quote]

Wouldn't it make more sense to set up in Washington and Oregon?

It's a more direct route, and I doubt the Californian Republic would be able to even muster a real navy to take on Chinese freighters.