Jack Lew, President Biden’s top pick for ambassador to Israel, is also the head of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, an advisory organization that advocates for increased trade and diplomatic links between the two countries.
Companies such as Blackstone, Citigroup, and BlackRock have donated to the committee, which has been called a “strong supporter” of China by the Wall Street Journal.
Lew has met with and hosted high-ranking Chinese Communist Party officials, including the foreign minister, who said the United States is responsible for the “fundamental causes” of animosity between the two countries. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with International Countries, which carries out international influence operations for the CCP, hosted a celebratory ceremony at which former Treasury Secretary and Obama administration official Lew also participated.
To counter China’s expanding influence in the Middle East, the United States has increased pressure on Israel to sever relations with Beijing, and the Biden administration has advocated for an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. According to intelligence expert Anders Corr, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Asia Society are “consistently mild on China.”
Lew has taken a conciliatory tone with CCP leaders, arguing that economic “decoupling” between the United States and China is futile since the two nations rely on each other.
Official CCP Politburo member Yang Jiechi advised American diplomats in February 2021 not to “meddle” in Hong Kong and Xinjiang matters, which he said were examples of U.S. “intervention” in China’s internal affairs. He also claimed that American institutions were “harassing” Chinese students. Lew disregarded the insults and said Yang had brought up numerous crucial issues that needed further investigation and discussion.
Lew, if approved, would join Biden’s other envoys who have cozied up to the CCP.
Ambassadors to India Eric Garcetti and Australia Caroline Kennedy sat on the Asia Society board. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski was paid by the Chinese Communist Party in 2019 to “demonize” the United States during a speaking engagement for an advisory council.
During her confirmation hearing, United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield was questioned about a lecture she delivered to a Confucius Institute in 2019.
The Chinese government uses these institutes to exert influence on American universities.
