Surrogacy Scam Involving Chinese Official
A high-ranking official from the Chinese Communist Party has been linked to a widespread surrogacy scam in California, reportedly driven by an unusual ambition for his children to become president of the United States.
Guojun Xuan, alongside his partner Silvia Zhang, is accused of exploiting California’s unregulated surrogacy landscape, resulting in at least 26 children being born through surrogate mothers. They allegedly utilized Xuan’s sperm along with anonymous egg donors and ran their own agency, Mark Surrogacy, from their multimillion-dollar residence in Arcadia, where they raised over 20 children.
Workers at their home described Xuan as a wealthy individual determined to have numerous children by any means necessary. Some employees noted his fixation on expanding his family, as he hoped that one of his children would ultimately become president.
Numerous children were reportedly given names after notable American politicians and international figures, which, according to a source, stemmed from Xuan’s jealousy due to his status as a non-“natural-born” American, preventing him from running for president.
Xuan and Zhang purportedly presented themselves as an unmarried couple wishing to give their daughter a sibling, luring many women into surrogacy agreements without disclosing that other surrogates were also involved.
The scandal came to light in May 2025 when a two-month-old infant under Xuan’s care was hospitalized with a head injury. Authorities then uncovered over 20 additional children in varying age groups living in their home. Both Xuan and Zhang are currently out on bail while a state child abuse investigation unfolds.
Since their arrest, at least five more surrogate mothers have given birth. Some of these mothers are now seeking custody of their children after learning of the alleged scheme. Reports indicate that Xuan and Zhang have initiated lawsuits against at least two surrogates, claiming they have lost contact with them since their detention.
Recent accounts suggest that Xuan’s behavior has escalated into chaos, including carrying around business cards identifying himself as a “member of President Trump.” He appears to lack any genuine connection to the Trump administration, despite claiming to be a so-called “official Trump Cabinet member.”
Peter Schweitzer, a bestselling investigative journalist, discusses Xuan’s alleged surrogacy operations in his recent book. He highlights how Chinese elites are utilizing the U.S. surrogacy industry to secure birthright citizenship for their offspring.
Schweitzer notes that California is home to at least 107 surrogacy-related companies owned by Chinese nationals, emphasizing the extent of this issue.
From the viewpoint of the Chinese Communist Party, Schweitzer argues, there is little evidence that these individuals reject the party or embrace Western ideals. Instead, he outlines a historical pattern of using immigration as a strategic tool.
He references a significant event in 1997 when China began its control over Hong Kong, during which the government, with support from the Communist Party, orchestrated the relocation of over 83,000 individuals with false identities into the region.
Schweitzer quotes analyst Yin Qian, who explains that these migrants, while appearing to be ordinary, were actually- authorized by the Chinese government and served as a covert strategy to influence local governance.
Schweitzer’s book, “The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon,” debuted at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list.
