China–United States Exchange Foundation
AbbreviationCUSEF
FormationOctober 2007 (2007-10)
FounderTung Chee-hwa
Founded atHong Kong
TypeNonprofit organization
Registration no.1180245
Websitewww.cusef.org.hk

The China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) 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 vice chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who remains the chairman of the foundation.[1] CUSEF's governing board has included members such as Ronnie Chan, Elsie Leung, and Victor Fung.[2]

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.[3][4] 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][5][6][7]

History

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.[8][4]

In 2023, CUSEF launched a campaign to lobby members of the Congressional Black Caucus.[9]

Sanya Initiative

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.[10][11][12] 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.[13][14]

Trips for elected officials

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.[15]

University funding

CUSEF funds the Pacific Community Initiative at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.[16][17] CUSEF also provides funding to the University of Montana's Max S. Baucus Institute.[18]

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.[2][19][20] 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.[21]

Foundation grants

In 2021, CUSEF gave a $5 million grant to the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.[22] CUSEF also provides funding to the Carter Center[23] and has partnered with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Brookings Institution, Atlantic Council, and Center for American Progress.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Sanya Initiative". China-United States Exchange Foundation. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ Diamond, Larry; Schell, Orville (2019-08-01). China's Influence and American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance. Hoover Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-8179-2286-3. OCLC 1104533323. Archived from the original on 2020-05-28. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ Quinn, Jimmy (January 2, 2024). "University of Montana Defies Call to Shutter Program Linked to Chinese Influence Operation". National Review. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  19. ↑ Redden, Elizabeth (January 16, 2018). "Thanks, but No, Thanks". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Quinn, Jimmy (4 December 2023). "Obama China Ambassador's Institute Faces Scrutiny over Beijing Ties". National Review. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ 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.
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