A recent investigation by Fox News Digital has uncovered the close relationship between California Governor Gavin Newsom and a former Chinese Consul General in San Francisco, Ying He. He praised Darlene Chiu-Bryant, a former aide to Newsom and executive director of ChinaSF, in a 2017 LinkedIn post, referring to her as a “Super lady” who helped to promote US-Sino investment and trade during her time as consul in San Francisco. Bryant has a lengthy history of working with the Chinese government, with connections to both the Chinese and US governments and over a decade of experience in roles with the Ministry of Commerce.
This revelation is part of a larger examination into ChinaSF, an organization founded by Newsom during his tenure as mayor of San Francisco in 2008. The organization recruited over 100 Chinese companies into San Francisco, including Suntech, a Chinese solar company developed by the CCP. Newsom himself recruited the company into the United States and publicly praised its CEO, Dr. Zhengrong Shi. Additionally, real estate companies with ties to China were involved in ChinaSF, with allegations that Newsom received anonymous contributions from Z&L Properties, a Chinese real estate company whose billionaire owner was implicated in bribery of a San Francisco government official.
The authors of a recent book, “Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All,” claim that ChinaSF served as a gateway for CCP officials and Chinese criminals to exploit California. Darlene Chiu-Bryant, who traveled with Newsom to China in 2005 and later ran ChinaSF, was referred to locally as “the Fixer” for Chinese businesses looking to establish a presence in San Francisco. Photos on her personal Facebook profile show her with Newsom and other California politicians, suggesting a close relationship between Bryant and Newsom.
The ties between Newsom, Bryant, and Chinese officials raise concerns about potential influence peddling for the CCP in the United States. Some experts warn that the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to infiltrate every aspect of American society, including universities and businesses. Michael Sobolik, author of “Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance,” emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to counter these threats, beyond simply trying to undo past infiltrations.
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment, but received a response referring to an article about conspiracy theories. Despite the lack of response from Bryant, the investigation sheds light on the complex web of relationships between US politicians, Chinese officials, and organizations like ChinaSF. The connections and actions of individuals like Newsom, Bryant, and others involved in ChinaSF raise questions about the potential for foreign influence in US politics and business, and the need for increased vigilance to protect against such threats.
