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China–United States Exchange Foundation

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The China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF, simplified Chinese: 中美交流基金会; traditional Chinese: 中美交流基金會) is a Hong Kong-based nonprofit organization whose stated aim is to encourage dialogue and exchanges between the people of the United States and China. CUSEF was founded in 2008 by Tung Chee-hwa, a billionaire, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and former vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who remains the chairman emeritus of the foundation.[1][2] CUSEF's governing board has included members such as Ronnie Chan, Elsie Leung, and Victor Fung.[3]

China–United States Exchange Foundation
AbbreviationCUSEF
FormationOctober 2007; 17 years ago (2007-10)
FounderTung Chee-hwa
Founded atHong Kong
TypeNonprofit organization
Registration no.1180245
Websitewww.cusef.org.hk Edit this at Wikidata

CUSEF donates to universities and think tanks in the U.S. while also sponsoring trips for journalists, students, and former U.S. officials and politicians to China to speak with officials.[4][5] According to various journalists and academics, CUSEF is a central part of the Chinese Communist Party's united front strategy of influence in the U.S.[1][6][7][8]

History

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According to Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings, CUSEF is classified as a "foreign principal" which has hired lobbying and public relations firms since 2009 such as Brown Lloyd James, Fontheim International, Covington & Burling, Capitol Counsel LLC, Podesta Group, and Wilson Global Communications to craft and promote pro-Beijing messages.[9][5]

In 2023, CUSEF launched a campaign to lobby members of the Congressional Black Caucus.[10]

Sanya Initiative

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Since 2008, CUSEF has partnered with the China Association for International Friendly Contact and the EastWest Institute to organize forums, termed the U.S.-China Sanya Initiative, between retired People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers and retired U.S. military personnel.[11][12][13] Past forums were reported to have attempted to influence retired U.S. military officers to lobby against U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and to delay a Pentagon report on PLA capabilities.[14][15]

Trips for elected officials

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In 2019, CUSEF sponsored a trip to China by a delegation of mayors from Indiana, Ohio, and South Dakota, including James Brainard and Paul TenHaken.[16]

University funding

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CUSEF funds the Pacific Community Initiative at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.[17][18] CUSEF also provides funding to the University of Montana's Max S. Baucus Institute.[19]

In 2018, the University of Texas at Austin refused a donation from CUSEF after a letter by Senator Ted Cruz raised concerns about the foundation's reported links to the Chinese Communist Party.[3][20][21] In 2023, US House representatives Mike Gallagher, Ryan Zinke, and Matt Rosendale pressed the University of Montana to cut ties with CUSEF related to its funding of student trips to China.[22]

Foundation grants

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In 2021, CUSEF gave a $5 million grant to the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.[23] CUSEF also provides funding to the Carter Center[24] and has partnered with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Brookings Institution, Atlantic Council, and Center for American Progress.[8]

Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations

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CUSEF periodically holds the "Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations" to facilitate exchanges between present and former officials, academics, and business leaders in the US, China, and other nations. In 2023, speakers attending the forum include former US ambassador to China and ex-senator Max Baucus, former US Trade Negotiator Charlene Barshefsky and President of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft.[25]

Hong Kong Forum 2024

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The forum in 2024 included speeches from Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the United States, and Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China delivered through video. The forum was attended by former ambassador Max Baucus, the 12th United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, representatives from families of former US president Carter, Nixon, and Bush.[26]

John Moolenaar, chairman of the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and Fox News has criticized US officials from attending the forum, stating that it would "legitimize the CCP event."[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ a b Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (November 28, 2017). "This Beijing-Linked Billionaire Is Funding Policy Research at Washington's Most Influential Institutions: The Chinese Communist Party is quietly reshaping public opinion and policy abroad". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Tung Chee-hwa elected Chairman Emeritus of China-United States Exchange Foundation". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  3. ^ a b Lam, Jeffie; Chung, Kimmy (January 15, 2018). "University of Texas at Austin rejects funding from Hong Kong-based foundation, citing its links to Communist Party". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (June 30, 2020). "China's influence operations are getting harder to hide". Axios. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Lim, Louisa; Bergin, Julia (2018-12-07). "Inside China's audacious global propaganda campaign". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  6. ^ Cole, J. Michael; Hsu, Szu-Chien (2020-07-30). Insidious Power: How China Undermines Global Democracy. Eastbridge Books. pp. 29–37, 56–57. ISBN 978-1-78869-214-4. Archived from the original on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  7. ^ Hamilton, Clive; Ohlberg, Mareike (2020). Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World. New York: Oneworld Publications. pp. 210–212. ISBN 978-1-78607-784-4. OCLC 1150166864.
  8. ^ a b Bowe, Alexander (August 24, 2018). "China's Overseas United Front Work: Background and Implications for the United States" (PDF). United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Dotson, John (September 16, 2020). "The China-U.S. Exchange Foundation and United Front "Lobbying Laundering" in American Politics". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Lobby firm woos African Americans to promote China's foreign influence ops". Intelligence Online. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Sanya Initiative". China-United States Exchange Foundation. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  12. ^ Cavanaugh, Joshua (June 3, 2020). "U.S.-China Sanya Initiative Dialogue: Report from the 11th Meeting". EastWest Institute. Archived from the original on 2020-09-05. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  13. ^ Wortzel, Larry M. (March 1, 2014). "The Chinese People's Liberation Army and Information Warfare". Monographs, Collaborative Studies, & Irps. Strategic Studies Institute: 33–34. JSTOR resrep11757. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. ^ Kan, Shirley A. (July 25, 2013). "U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  15. ^ Garnaut, John (2013-05-24). "China gets into the business of making friends". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  16. ^ "Fall 2019 Mayors Delegation to China". United States Heartland China Association. 2019-11-30. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  17. ^ Diamond, Larry; Schell, Orville (2019-08-01). China's Influence and American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance. Hoover Institution. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-8179-2286-3. OCLC 1104533323. Archived from the original on 2020-05-28. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Pacific Community Initiative". Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  19. ^ Quinn, Jimmy (January 2, 2024). "University of Montana Defies Call to Shutter Program Linked to Chinese Influence Operation". National Review. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Redden, Elizabeth (January 16, 2018). "Thanks, but No, Thanks". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  21. ^ Rogin, Josh (January 15, 2018). "University rejects Chinese Communist Party-linked influence efforts on campus". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  22. ^ Quinn, Jimmy (4 December 2023). "Obama China Ambassador's Institute Faces Scrutiny over Beijing Ties". National Review. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  23. ^ Lachlan, Markay; Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (June 5, 2021). "Bush family nonprofit's $5 million deal with China influence group". Axios. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  24. ^ Eisenman, Joshua; Sobolik, Michael (August 31, 2021). "U.S. Institutions Must Get Smarter About Chinese Communist Party Money". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  25. ^ "US, UN officials to attend Hong Kong forum on Sino-US ties in November". South China Morning Post. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  26. ^ Hu, Oasis. "Forum on US-China ties set to launch". China Daily. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  27. ^ "Moolenaar: U.S. Participation in CUSEF Forum Sends the Wrong Message". Select Committee on the CCP. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  28. ^ Andrew Miller, Cameron Cawthorne (2024-11-13). "'Malign influence': Top Biden official faces backlash ahead of address at forum with deep ties to CCP". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
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