Newsom Ally’s Ties to Chinese Official Under Scrutiny
A close associate of California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing renewed scrutiny for her past interactions with a high-ranking Chinese official while she served as the Chinese consul general in San Francisco, raising questions about potential influence peddling and the extent of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involvement in California’s political and economic landscape.
Darlene Chiu-Bryant, a long-time Newsom ally, received public praise from Ying He, who served as the Chinese consul general in San Francisco between 2012 and 2016. In a 2017 LinkedIn recommendation, He lauded Chiu-Bryant as a "Super lady" and highlighted her ability to facilitate business development in both California and Beijing. At the time of the recommendation, He held a senior position as a division director for the Ministry of Commerce, an arm of the CCP government.
"Darlene is the right person when you need to develop business (sic) in either California or Beijing," He wrote, adding that Chiu-Bryant was an "excellent PR professional" capable of handling challenging tasks. He also acknowledged that Chiu-Bryant "helped me a lot when I was consul in SF, promoting US-Sino investment and trade." He concluded by stating that Chiu-Bryant was "a friend in need and a Super Lady indeed."
He’s LinkedIn profile reveals a career dedicated to the Ministry of Commerce, with over a decade of service in various roles. Her profile also highlights her "extensive connections with Chinese and U.S. governments" and her experience as a diplomat in San Francisco.
The relationship between Chiu-Bryant and He is attracting attention due to Chiu-Bryant’s role as the executive director of ChinaSF, an organization that has come under increased scrutiny for its ties to the CCP. ChinaSF’s mission was to recruit Chinese companies to San Francisco, and it reportedly brought over 100 such companies into the city.
A new book sheds light on the origins of ChinaSF, revealing that Newsom established the organization in 2008 during his tenure as Mayor of San Francisco. The book details how Newsom actively recruited Suntech, a Chinese solar company backed by the CCP, into the U.S., publicly praising its CEO, Dr. Zhengrong Shi, and appointing him to ChinaSF’s advisory board.
Beyond green energy companies, ChinaSF also facilitated the entry of real estate firms into San Francisco. The book alleges that Newsom received over $23,000 in anonymous contributions from Z&L, a Chinese real estate company whose billionaire owner was later convicted of bribing a San Francisco government official. A 2017 ChinaSF post featured a photo of Chiu-Bryant, Newsom, and others in front of a wall displaying the Z&L Properties logo. The caption stated that ChinaSF was "started by our Lt Governor Gavin Newsom when he was Mayor of San Francisco in 2008" and expressed pride in working with "partners and companies recruited to the SF Bay Area." According to Chinese state media outlet China Daily, Newsom launched the group while visiting Shanghai, stating that "The two most important things for us are energy independence and establishing a stronger relationship with China."
Chiu-Bryant’s involvement with China and Newsom dates back to 2005, when she served as his deputy communications director and accompanied him on a trip to China. Her role at ChinaSF is further examined in the book "Fools Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All," which argues that ChinaSF acted as a gateway for CCP officials and Chinese entities to exploit California.
The book alleges that Chiu-Bryant was known as "the Fixer" for Chinese businesses seeking to operate in San Francisco. Her Facebook profile contains numerous photos showcasing her involvement with ChinaSF and her connections with Newsom and other California politicians.
In 2019, GlobalSF posted a photo of Newsom and Chiu-Bryant at an event. The caption, seemingly written by Chiu-Bryant, called Newsom a "visionary leader" and credited him with starting ChinaSF in 2008 "to be the China Desk for the city and county of [San Francisco] to facilitate inbound investment." Another photo on Facebook depicts Chiu-Bryant attending Newsom’s inauguration in early 2019.
These revelations come amidst growing concerns about the CCP’s influence operations in the United States. Recent reports have highlighted the activities of Chinese consuls general, such as Huang Ping, who oversaw the office in New York City and promoted CCP propaganda while denying allegations of Uyghur genocide in China. Huang Ping’s travels to U.S. universities and meetings with business leaders and elected officials raised concerns about potential influence peddling on behalf of the CCP.
Michael Sobolik, author of "Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance," emphasized the CCP’s comprehensive approach to infiltrating American society. He warned that the CCP seeks to exploit every aspect of American life and that defensive measures are necessary to counter its influence.
Newsom’s office responded to inquiries by referencing an article about conspiracy theories. Chiu-Bryant has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The unfolding situation underscores the need for heightened scrutiny of relationships between American political figures and Chinese officials, particularly in light of the CCP’s efforts to expand its influence globally. The revelations about Chiu-Bryant’s ties to the former Chinese consul general and her involvement with ChinaSF raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and the extent to which Chinese entities may have influenced California’s policies and economy. The issue is likely to fuel further debate about the appropriate level of engagement with China and the measures necessary to protect American interests from potential CCP interference.
