Swalwell’s Ties to Chinese Officials Under Scrutiny in Governor’s Race
Rep. Eric Swalwell’s connections to Chinese communists might pose a problem as he campaigns for governor in California.
A Facebook post from 2013 by the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, recently discovered by Fox News Digital, shows Swalwell, who was a freshman congressman at the time, expressing excitement about the “huge potential” for collaboration between the U.S. and China. This came shortly after he reportedly became a target of espionage activities involving a suspected female spy.
The post featured a photo of Swalwell alongside a senior Chinese Communist Party (CCP) diplomat, Song Luan. This was particularly notable because Luan, at that time, was the vice consul general of the Chinese Bay Area consulate and later became a higher official in Hong Kong’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The United States and China have much in common, and our economies are highly complementary,” Swalwell stated during the meeting captured in the photo. He added, “There is great potential for cooperation between our two countries.” He expressed a desire to promote economic ties and looked forward to visiting China soon.
Interestingly, news of the photo’s existence surfaced just two weeks after it was reported that Swalwell’s campaign received nearly $10,000 from the Dehen Law Firm, a California-based firm claimed to have strong connections to the CCP.
Ruan, the official in question, has been known to support policies that go against U.S. interests. While in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2021, he criticized a human rights law designed to protect dissidents, becoming a significant figure in national security crackdowns.
Swalwell, previously a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also faced scrutiny regarding his relationship with a Chinese national who had shown interest in his past activities. This relationship raised eyebrows due to the espionage claims directed at him.
Concerns have been voiced by U.S. officials regarding China’s strategies to foster relationships with American politicians, using diplomats in their efforts.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy commented on Swalwell’s relationship with a suspected spy, noting its long history and how it raised alarms within political circles. He stated, “His activities and behavior are very disturbing,” correlating it with Swalwell’s removal from the Intelligence Committee due to these associations.
When this decision was made, Swalwell dismissed the claims as politically motivated, citing retaliation for his role in Trump’s impeachment trial. His team has since opted not to comment on the uncovered photo and the accompanying article.
