China floods Hill with invitations to meet with its politburo
China’s National People’s Congress is seeking to meet with congressional staff via the U.S.-Asia Institute (USAI).
Multiple House offices whose members are on committees ranging from Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party received exclusive invites from USAI for an “online congressional exchange,” which is open to “full-time Congressional staff and fellows.”
“This online exchange opportunity will allow for Congressional staff to interact with staff from the American Chamber of Commerce and the National People’s Congress of China,” the invite says. The National People’s Congress of China (NPC) is the politburo of the CCP.
Wednesday’s event isn’t the first USAI has pitched to Congressional staffers. Another events was a lecture series for participants to earn a “professional development certificate.” USAI is currently hosting a China 101 lecture series for congressional staff and interns, which is held in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.), who is on both the House’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Select Committee on the CCP, told the Reporter that his staff will not be allowed to participate in this exchange. “Congressional offices need to be highly circumspect about this invitation,” Barr said. “This is classic CCP propaganda work. They do this with state and local officials, they do this with governor’s offices. Bottom line is: congressional staff should not be doing this.”
