An autobiography by a Chinese intelligence officer reveals extensive efforts to build connections with U.S. officials, highlighted by claims of a conspiracy involving a three-star U.S. general to annex key Chinese territories, according to an investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Eugene Gee, a Chinese American businessman who owns two golf courses near Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, reportedly has a longstanding professional and personal relationship with veterans, including Lieutenant General Russell Honoré. Reports suggest this relationship included lavish gifts and meetings with Chinese officials as detailed in the translation of Ji’s 2014 autobiography, “New Circle.” Among other alarming allegations, it suggests they organized visits for Chinese military personnel to U.S. nuclear sites and sought to raise a $500 million plan targeting Japan’s Senkaku Islands, a claim Honoré denies.
Honoré, a retired general known for his role in post-Katrina military efforts, refuted the claims regarding the Senkaku project, calling Ji’s statements “full of shit.” He acknowledged being photographed with businessmen featured in the autobiography but insisted these interactions didn’t constitute formal agreements. “I met with them, but there was no agreement and they were not official advisors,” he stated, explaining that he simply helped out a friend.
Ji’s ties to the Chinese government, particularly with the United Front Work Department, have raised significant concerns about how China attempts to influence prominent Americans. A former Air Force intelligence analyst emphasized that such interactions might compromise national security.
Ji’s multiple attempts to recruit Chinese business partners and the proposed plans, including potentially questionable hiring practices around the Senkaku Islands, leave many skeptical about the seriousness of these efforts. There seems to be a dissonance between Ji’s aspirations and the reality of U.S.-China relations. For instance, Honoré dismissed discussions of a so-called “Central American Generals Friendly Golf Tournament,” claiming that he dislikes golf altogether.
Furthermore, Ji allegedly showered Honoré with luxurious gifts such as expensive alcohol and LED lights, details that Honoré largely disregarded. While Ji claimed to have provided Honoré with fine liquors for gatherings with military officials, Honoré remarked that he can’t recall any such gifts, describing one instance where he merely received an LED light—a common item available at any retail outlet.
Experts have pointed out that Ji’s actions cross the line into potentially dangerous territory, considering the nature of his engagements with U.S. military personnel. “It’s not just normal. It poses a counterintelligence risk,” one analyst noted.
