University Housing Biden Center Took Funds From Firm Controlled By China’s ‘Supreme Organ Of State Power,’ Docs Show

The University of Pennsylvania has received a significant amount of funding from a company affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following the establishment of Joe Biden's think tank in 2018, as disclosed in the university's foreign gift reporting records.

From 2018 to 2020, China Everbright Group, identified as a state-owned financial conglomerate, made donations totaling $523,840 to the University of Pennsylvania subsequent to the launch of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in February 2018. China Everbright Group, established in 1983 with support from the State Council, which comprises the heads of various Chinese government ministries, holds a significant position within China's power structure.

Furthermore, there are indications of a connection between China Everbright Group and Hunter Biden's business endeavors based on several financial disclosures. During the period of these donations, China Everbright Group's shares were predominantly owned by state-owned Central Huijin Investment Ltd., as documented in Chinese state-owned bank records from 2018 to 2020. Central Huijin Investment's board of directors and supervisors are appointed by the State Council, and their investments are made under the authorization of the council.

The foreign gift reporting records reveal that China Everbright Group made multiple donations to UPenn. In October 2018, they contributed $18,140, followed by an additional donation of $314,110 in December 2018. In September 2019, a third donation of $191,590 was made. These contributions demonstrate a pattern of financial support from China Everbright Group to the University of Pennsylvania.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that China Everbright Group's association with Hunter Biden's business ventures is evident from various financial disclosures. In 2014, China Everbright Group was listed as the parent company of China Everbright Bank, which, according to reports, was a significant investor in Bohai Harvest RST. During that period, Hunter Biden served as a board member of Bohai Harvest RST. Moreover, Hua Zhixiang, the former head of China Everbright Bank's international business department, has been listed as an investment partner on Bohai Harvest's website since 2015.

In addition to China Everbright Group's contributions, Fox News recently reported that the University of Pennsylvania received over $7 million from Chinese sources linked to Hunter Biden following the establishment of the Penn Biden Center. The center, situated in Washington, D.C., aims to develop policies and foster the national debate on American global leadership in the 21st century.

These revelations coincide with the release of a report by the House Oversight Committee, which outlines allegations of foreign funds flowing through various entities to the Biden family, potentially constituting an influence peddling scheme. The report specifically highlights an instance where Chinese individuals and companies allegedly attempted to obscure the source of a $100,000 wire transfer to Hunter Biden's professional corporation in 2017.

Moreover, concerns have been raised in the past regarding China Everbright Group's connections to Chinese intelligence and influence operations. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission identified Gao Yunlong, China Everbright Group's vice-chairman and president, as one of the officials affiliated with the CCP's "United Front" in 2018. The "United Front" is utilized by the CCP to co-opt and neutralize potential opposition to its policies and authority.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently described the United Front Work Department, an entity directly reporting to the CCP's Central Committee, as an organization that advances the CCP's goals. These developments highlight the need for scrutiny when it comes to foreign entities and their potential influence on American institutions.

In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania stated that all foreign contributions had been reported as required and made publicly available on the Department of Education website. They emphasized that no foreign funds were contributed anonymously and that no donations were directed to the Penn Biden Center. However, the spokesperson did not provide further information regarding the university's policy on accepting donations from the Chinese government.

It is worth noting that China Everbright Group had previously faced scrutiny in the 1990s concerning its alleged involvement in influence peddling and CCP influence operations. In 1998, Republican congressional investigators claimed that China Everbright Group funneled illegal funds, amounting to at least $30,000, into the Democratic National Committee's campaign through Charlie Trie, a fundraiser for President Bill Clinton. While the extent of China Everbright Group's involvement in the campaign financing scandal remains unclear, Trie pleaded guilty to violating federal election laws in 1999 for his role in channeling over $600,000 to the DNC from China.

These details shed light on the flow of funds from a company linked to the CCP into the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the potential connections between China Everbright Group and Hunter Biden's business activities. These revelations raise concerns about foreign influence and underscore the need for transparency and caution when dealing with foreign entities, particularly those tied to governments with differing political and ideological systems.