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Newly Discovered Photo Shows Rep. Swalwell Met with Senior Chinese Diplomat During Suspected Spy Operation
A previously unreported Facebook post from 2013 has surfaced showing then-freshman Representative Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., meeting with a senior Chinese diplomat during the same period when he was allegedly targeted by Chinese espionage efforts.
The photo, unearthed by Fox News Digital, shows Swalwell posing with Song Ru’an, who was serving as Deputy Consul General at China’s San Francisco consulate at the time. Notably, the image was “liked” by Christine “Fang Fang” Fang, a Chinese national who U.S. intelligence officials suspected of being a Chinese Ministry of State Security operative.
According to the caption posted by the Chinese consulate, Swalwell remarked during the meeting that “The United States and China have a lot in common and the two economies are highly complementary. There are great potential for the two countries to cooperate.” He added that he would “work actively to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation” and looked forward to visiting China.
The timing of this meeting is significant, as it occurred during the same period when Fang Fang was reportedly working closely with Swalwell’s campaign, helping with fundraising efforts. U.S. intelligence officials have indicated they believe Fang was part of a Chinese influence operation between approximately 2011 and 2015.
Song Ru’an, the diplomat Swalwell met with, later rose to become the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Hong Kong until at least 2021. During his tenure in Hong Kong, Ru’an emerged as a vocal critic of U.S. human rights legislation aimed at protecting Hong Kong residents from China’s crackdown on dissidents.
According to the South China Morning Post, Ru’an described a 2019 U.S. Human Rights and Democracy Act as “the epitome of hegemony” and warned it went against American interests. He also reportedly characterized America’s role in China’s domestic issues as “negative and disgraceful.”
Prior to his Hong Kong posting, while serving in San Francisco, Ru’an and other consular officials reportedly attempted to prevent the creation of a mural in Oregon highlighting China’s human rights abuses against Tibetan people.
The revelation comes amid fresh scrutiny of Swalwell’s ties to China as he campaigns for California governor. Recently, Fox News Digital reported that a California-based law partner for a Beijing firm donated thousands of dollars to Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed strong concerns about Swalwell’s past connections to Chinese influence operations. “Swalwell met Fang Fang when he was on the city council. He continued a long relationship with her and she would direct him. She directed interns in his office,” McCarthy told Fox News Digital.
McCarthy, who removed Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 after Republicans gained control of the House, insisted the action wasn’t politically motivated but based on serious national security concerns. “The report that I received, he never should have been on Intel,” McCarthy said, referring to a briefing he and other senior members of Congress received after news broke about Swalwell’s connection to Fang Fang.
In 2020, U.S. intelligence officials became so concerned with Fang’s activities that they alerted Swalwell and congressional leadership. Sources speaking to Axios said Swalwell immediately cut ties with Fang following this defensive briefing.
Swalwell has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and a multi-year congressional ethics investigation did not take action against him over these associations. His team declined to provide comment regarding the newly discovered photo with Ru’an, and the San Francisco Chinese Consulate did not respond to requests for comment.
Republican California gubernatorial candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton criticized Swalwell’s past engagement with Chinese officials, saying, “These people never give up power voluntarily and they are always on the look-out for the ‘useful idiots’ and gullible stooges who they can target with their influence operations.”
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese influence operations targeting U.S. politicians and California’s significance in U.S.-China relations, particularly regarding trade and technology.
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10 Comments
While cooperation between the US and China is important, this meeting during a suspected spy operation is troubling. Transparency and accountability around such interactions are crucial, especially for elected officials.
Agreed. The public deserves to know the full details to understand if any breaches of trust or national security concerns exist.
This certainly raises some eyebrows. Meetings between US officials and Chinese diplomats are always sensitive, especially given the current geopolitical tensions. I’m curious to learn more about the context and purpose of this particular interaction.
Yes, the timing is quite concerning. Any potential ties to suspected espionage efforts warrant thorough investigation to ensure national security is protected.
As a supporter of mining and energy industries, I’m concerned about potential national security risks from this type of interaction. Maintaining trust in our elected officials and institutions is critical, so I hope the details can be fully examined.
I share your concerns. The mining and energy sectors are strategically important, so we must ensure robust safeguards against foreign influence or espionage.
This is a complex issue that requires balanced consideration. On one hand, engagement between US and Chinese officials can be valuable. But the timing and context here raise legitimate security worries that warrant further scrutiny.
Absolutely. The revelations warrant a thorough, impartial investigation to determine the facts and implications, if any.
This is a troubling development that deserves close scrutiny. Elected representatives must be held to the highest ethical and security standards, especially when dealing with adversarial nations like China. I hope a thorough investigation can shed light on the facts.
Agreed. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust in our government and democratic institutions.