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The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Academic with apparent ties to Beijing has forged links within UK parliament
An academic with apparent connections to the Chinese Communist party has forged links inside the UK parliament and met King Charles and Queen Camilla. Yu Xiong, a professor of business analytics at the University of Surrey and a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, has attended a dozen events in the House of Lords since 2022 and had regular contact with peers including Baroness Uddin, a cross-bencher. Xiong appears to be connected to the Chinese Communist party (CCP), having until May 2023 led a branch of the Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA), which states that it is 'managed by' the United Front Work Department. He was president of the UK branch of the WRSA, representing Chongqing, China's largest city. Described by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, as his party's 'magic weapon', the United Front exists to advance China's aims abroad. Under party regulations, its principles include 'upholding the leadership of the CCP' and opposing Taiwanese independence. Security agencies in the UK, US and other western countries have issued public warnings about the United Front's activities. Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, said in 2022 that the United Front was mounting 'patient, well-funded, deceptive campaigns to buy and exert influence'. Xiong has also attended at least three meetings in 2023 and 2024 with Chinese officials to discuss advancing their controversial plans for a new mega-embassy in Tower Hamlets. The plans were originally blocked by the local council but are being reconsidered by ministers after China resubmitted its application last year. His apparent connections to the Chinese government are likely to come under scrutiny as ministers in the UK target parts of the Chinese state under new foreign influence rules. Xiong denies that he is linked to the United Front and strongly rejects that he has extensive connections to the CCP. He said he had not attended any meetings of the WRSA since 2019, and that he had allowed his role as UK president to lapse in 2023. Xiong said the WRSA obtains its relevant permissions from the United Front, along with many other associations with hundreds of millions of members between them. Through his solicitors, Xiong stated that it is 'absurd', 'grossly unfair', and 'overly simplistic' to identify him as someone with links to the United Front and said that it was disingenuous and racist to connect him with the CCP. 'In my role as an associate vice-president and academic, I am required to network with political figures in the UK and stakeholders across the globe in order to advance international cooperation in my field for the benefit of Surrey University. There is nothing unusual about my membership of various Chinese academic/trade associations.' Uddin said she had not been aware of Xiong's role with the WRSA before she was contacted by the Guardian, but stressed that there was nothing improper about their friendship. The pair collaborated on an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) and attended meetings together in London, China and Bangladesh, including one with the Chinese ambassador to Dhaka. Experts said that Xiong's role as UK president suggested 'a high level of integration into the CCP-led United Front system' and 'should trigger further scrutiny of the WRSA's activities in the UK'. Alex Joske, a director at the Australian consultancy McGrathNicol who is an expert on the WRSA, said the United Front 'plays a fundamental role in expanding the CCP's political influence internationally, and it has sought to mobilise its international contacts in support of Chinese government interests. Prof Xiong's connections into UK politics should trigger further scrutiny of the WRSA's activities in the UK.' Xiong has established connections inside parliament and briefly met the king and queen. In June 2023, Xiong posted on LinkedIn that he had met King Charles while attending a charity ball at St James Palace, saying the men 'discussed AI and technologies that will change the world'. In October that year, he posted that he had a 'private meeting' with Paul Scully, then technology minister, through his role at Surrey University. Since 2022, Xiong has attended at least a dozen events in the House of Lords on digital technology and interacted with Uddin and Lord Taylor of Warwick, cross-bench peers who were formerly affiliated with Labour and the Conservatives respectively. Xiong said there was nothing improper about his interactions with politicians, businesspeople and members of the royal family. Xiong addressed several of the events he attended in parliament in his capacity as an adviser to the all-party parliamentary group on the metaverse and web 3.0, which was co-chaired by Uddin until parliament was dissolved in May 2024 for the election. The APPG's secretariat was run by the UK International Innovation Centre (UKIIC), a company that listed Xiong among its directors until April 2024. The UKIIC, whose website was taken down for several months after the Guardian's inquiries, stated its aims as 'upgrading China's soft power and international influence'. Xiong said he was not aware this phrase had appeared on the website and he did not share that aim. At the same time as forging connections in British politics and academia, Xiong has been an outspoken supporter of Beijing's foreign policy aims, including its claim over Taiwan. In 2023, Xiong was quoted in a Chinese state media article about a meeting between Xi and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. According to the report, he said: 'As new immigrants in the UK, we will leverage the unique advantages of Chinese people overseas in promoting the complete reunification of the motherland' – a reference to China's claim over self-governing Taiwan. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Xiong's solicitors in response said that he 'considers that any peaceful resolution of the issues between China and Taiwan is better than a non-peaceful one'. They said: 'Our client is not a politician, and his views about reintegration of Taiwan into China are informed only by his desire to see a peaceful outcome. 'His comments were made shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which caused many people to consider how other territorial disputes could best be resolved peacefully. None of our client's views on this subject should be taken to mean that he does not respect the Taiwanese people's right to self-determination, which is absolute.' In 2019, he was pictured in the VIP section of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. He was invited to attend by the Organisation Department, one of the most important organs of the CCP, which oversees staffing in the party. Through his lawyers, Xiong rejected the suggestion that his attendance at the celebrations on Tiananmen Square represented a relationship with the CCP or the United Front. In December 2023 and February and March 2024, Xiong attended meetings with Chinese officials, which were held to discuss ways of progressing proposals to build a super-embassy at Royal Mint Court, according to evidence seen by the Guardian. Present at all three meetings was Xia Yuzi, the Chinese embassy official responsible for the planning application. The Guardian has seen a business proposal addressed to Xiong by a third party after one of the meetings offering to advise the Chinese embassy on the matter. Dated March 2023, the proposal said it was 'a pleasure to sit down with the key people in the proposed project of the Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court', adding: 'We would be happy to help you on an advisory basis.' Xiong accepted that he received the proposal but said it was unsolicited. After being told there were text messages showing he asked for costs and timeframes, Xiong said that he offered to review the proposal as a way of rejecting it and that he never passed it on to the Chinese embassy. He strongly denied acting as an interlocutor between the embassy and other parties. Uddin, a former Labour councillor in Tower Hamlets, was present at two of the meetings with Chinese embassy officials. The peer said she did not know the purpose of the meetings she attended and did not discuss the embassy plans. Messages seen by the Guardian suggest that in late 2023, she sought to arrange a meeting with Xiong and an intermediary to discuss the Chinese embassy. Uddin said this might have been about the embassy's community impact. Over the last two years, Xiong and Uddin spent time together abroad in Bangladesh and China. In February 2024, they met Yao Wen, China's ambassador in Dhaka, and in April they attended a conference in Chongqing aimed at fostering UK-China cooperation. Separately, draft marketing materials seen by the Guardian list both Taylor and Uddin as advisers to the 'Thames Fund', an investment fund by a crypto company named JKL Capital, where Xiong is a director. Taylor declared he was a paid consultant to JKL Capital between November 2023 and December 2024, when he removed the entry from his register of interests after the Guardian started making inquiries. He said the entry had been made in error. Both Uddin and Taylor said that they had never heard of the Thames Fund and were unaware they had been pictured on its marketing materials. Xiong said the document was a draft which had only been circulated internally, and that the Thames Fund did not exist yet. He said no one had been paid by JKL Capital in the UK. Additional research by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Concerts postponed, films delayed: From Shreya Ghoshal to Arijit Singh, artists show solidarity with India after Op Sindoor
India's recent military action in response to the Pahalgam terror attack has received strong backing from the Bollywood fraternity, with numerous top artists publicly expressing their support for the armed forces. Popular singers like Shreya Ghoshal and Papon, to Arijit Singh have postponed their upcoming concerts. Apart from these artists, other celebrities, including Aamir Khan and sports icon Neeraj Chopra, have called for a collective pause of their major events. Additionally, actor Rajkumar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi's film 'Bhool Chuk Maaf', originally scheduled for a theatrical release on May 9, will now premiere digitally. Bollywood shows, United Front as concerts and events, face sudden postponements Singer Shreya Ghoshal announced that her Mumbai show that was scheduled to take place on Saturday has been postponed amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. The singer took to her Instagram to inform her fans about the same; she clarified that her concert, part of the 'All Hearts Tour', was postponed and not cancelled. Apart from this, her Mumbai show has also been postponed, and her note read, 'My dearest fans, with a heavy heart, I want to share that my homecoming concert in Mumbai, part of the All Hearts Tour and scheduled for 10th May 2025 at Jio World Garden, BKC, will be postponed due to the current events unfolding in our beloved country.' And the post went on. Meanwhile, singer Arijit Singh also announced the cancellation of his May 9 concert in Abu Dhabi. He shared a post that shared that he is postponing his live concert in Abu Dhabi that was scheduled for May 9, 2025. The post read, "Due to recent events, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Arijit Singh live concert in Abu Dhabi, originally scheduled for 9 May 2025, at Etihad Arena, Yas Island." Moreover, singer Kailash Kher also cancelled his concert in Bengaluru on Friday. On the other hand, the organiser, Randhir Roy Panache Media, in a statement, stated that they are going ahead with Kailash Kher's show in Bengaluru. However, Papon's concert on Sunday (May 11) in Kanpur has also been postponed. Other celebs who postponed their event Similarly, Shankar Mahadevan's Delhi concert had to be called off. The singer and composer took to social media to share the news on his social media. Well, not only the singers; actor Aamir Khan has also postponed the trailer launch of his upcoming film 'Sitaare Zameen Par', which was scheduled to release on May 8th, due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. On the other hand, the sports icon Neeraj Chopra Classic, which was supposed to be held on May 24, has been postponed till further notice, the organisers informed on May 9. About India-Pakistan tensions Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following Operation Sindoor, during which India targeted and destroyed terrorist camps at nine locations across the border in retaliation for the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
How China uses soft power to exert influence in Ireland
Following recent revelations of the China Targets project – an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) involving 42 media partners, including The Irish Times – of Chinese party-state interference activities in Ireland, the discreet, highly impactful influence activities of the party state with regard to Irish citizens also deserve attention. At the core of party-state influencing is the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department (UFWD). This is a key institution involved in building relationships with individuals and organisations outside the party, including among Chinese communities overseas. UFWD work seeks to foster connections, encourage support for Beijing's positions and promote unity among ethnic Chinese people globally. This is often done through cultural outreach, forums and community events. Experts describe the UFWD as playing a strategic role in shaping how overseas Chinese communities relate to both China and their host societies. Organs of the Chinese party state affiliated with United Front work have been active in Ireland, engaging with various levels of government and civil society. Part of its work involves interacting with policymakers, industry and opinion leaders abroad through various intermediaries – from official party-state affiliated organisations to more covertly connected media organisations, associations and other entities that often present themselves as independent. The goal is to counter criticism of the CCP, secure support for it and advance the country's national interests. Rather than coercion, this approach mainly relies on incentives – offering events, training and media engagement. These efforts often operate beneath the radar of national governments and can result in foreign individuals or institutions unknowingly advancing CCP interests. READ MORE The International Liaison Department (ILD), which sits directly under the highest organ of the CCP and is affiliated with United Front work, has engaged Irish leaders in Ireland and China. It focuses on party-to-party diplomacy, cultivating ties with foreign political parties and indirectly influencing adjacent sectors such as academia, civil society and policymaking circles. In Ireland, the head of the ILD has met TDs such as Fianna Fáil's Cork East TD James O'Connor , as well as an Irish think tank, and has engaged in subnational diplomacy. The concept of the United Front has its roots in the Soviet Union. In China, it became a foundational component of CCP ideology when Mao Zedong described the United Front as one of the CCP's three 'magic weapons'. Since then, it has been a steady pillar of the CCP's governance model. The importance of United Front work has been incorporated into Xi Jinping 's ruling ideology. The department's efforts are primarily steered by a top-level small group headed by Wang Huning, one of China's most senior leaders and the party's chief ideologue. The UFWD has grown significantly under Xi, who views it as a tool for China's 'great rejuvenation'. Established in 1949, it has branches in all levels of government. One of its key bureaux focuses specifically on overseas Chinese and people of Chinese descent, with the goal of cultivating loyalty to the PRC. Domestically, the UFWD targets non-party groups, such as religious groups and ethnic minorities, to bring them into the CCP's sphere of influence. It employs soft power and targeted engagement to bring individuals and organisations into ideological alignment with the party. Internationally, it builds networks that subtly guide the political and cultural discourse of Chinese diaspora communities with the aim of shaping how China is perceived abroad, inconspicuously influencing local policy environments, and ultimately ensuring that loyalty to the party trumps dissent. Another organisation that has been active in Ireland and is affiliated with United Front work is the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). It presents itself as a NGO but operates under the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and forms part of the United Front system. It focuses on people-to-people diplomacy, often working through city-to-city exchanges, local governments and academic institutions. Its goal is to promote CCP objectives – like the One China Principle and Belt and Road Initiative – through grassroots relationships. The CPAFFC uses a bottom-up strategy to cultivate sympathetic foreign individuals and institutions. Its former president Li Xiaolin described its aim as being to 'create a favourable and friendly atmosphere' towards China through 'targeted co-operation'. In June 2024, Fianna Fáil TDs James O'Connor and Pádraig O'Sullivan and Louth-based Senator Erin McGreehan met its chairman Yang Wanming in Dublin . Later that month, the three politicians travelled to China where they met CPAFFC vice-president Yuan Mindao. In a readout from the Chinese side, O'Connor is stated to have said that the Ireland-China Parliamentary Friendship Group is committed to strengthening communication with the CPAFFC and deepening practical co-operation in high technology. O'Connor again met with the ILD, this time with its vice-president, during his visit to China. [ China's intimidation of an Irish citizen in Dublin: 'I wanted to escape. It's scary' Opens in new window ] The work of the ILD and CPAFFC blurs the lines not only between party and state diplomacy but also between state and non-state diplomacy. Their activities in Ireland reflect the CCP's broader strategy: influencing without confrontation through soft power and informal ties. Despite their strategic role, they often operate without national-level protocol or oversight. Ultimately, we should pull back the cloak of neutrality that party-state affiliated organisations often wear, to see who entities active in Ireland are connected to in China and engage with a clear understanding of what objectives they serve – so that co-operation is informed, transparent and in the public interest. Alexander Davey is an analyst with the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), Berlin
The Age
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Watch: Group with historical CCP links ‘required' Chinese Australians to vote for Ryan
In a statement, Ryan's spokeswoman confirmed one of the volunteers signed up to campaign against Liberal opponent Amelia Hamer after an April 21 dinner organised by another group Ji leads, but distanced the MP from Ji. 'On April 21st, Monique attended a community dinner hosted by the Hubei Chamber of Commerce, which Mr Ji Jianmin also attended,' the spokeswoman said. 'Following the event, some attendees, including Stephen – one of the people in the video – signed up to volunteer. Monique has had no interaction with Stephen beyond being present at that dinner.' 'Monique has had no interaction with Stephen beyond being present at that dinner. Monique cannot confirm whether Jessica attended the dinner, and, to her knowledge, she has not met her.' 'They are not personally known to her. She is aware that they have handed out flyers at a pre-poll location in Kew but has no knowledge of any further involvement in her campaign.' Ji leads the Hubei Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Hubei Association, both of which are for people from the central Chinese province home to almost 60 million residents and the seventh-largest economy in the country. He also oversees the Huaxing Arts Group, which is a performing arts organisation. The groups were formerly run by Tom 'Mr Chinatown' Zhou, who was arrested and extradited to China in 2020 over suspected money laundering and corruption following an investigation by this masthead into Crown casino junkets. Zhou's legal status is unclear, but the Herald Sun reported in 2023 that he was unlikely to be released for five years. Loading A 2018 submission by researchers Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske to a federal parliamentary inquiry cites the Australian Hubei Association as among 'United Front-linked business groups'. 'Hometown associations draw together Chinese-Australians on the basis of their city or province of birth with the aim of mutual aid and social networking,' the report reads. 'Not all of them are United Front organisations, although the larger ones are certainly of interest to the embassy and consulates.' It is common for groups representing the Chinese diaspora or doing business with the country to have some ties to the nation's government because of how embedded the state is in society, but the United Front goes further. President Xi Jinping said in 2015 that the 'United Front … is an important magic weapon for strengthening the party's ruling position … and an important magic weapon for realising the 'China Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation'.' The Huaxing group writes biannual reports to United Front and includes its database of Australian political figures and community groups, according to research published in 2020 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Ji was contacted for comment and acknowledged he had seen written questions from this masthead about his alleged endorsement of Ryan but did not respond to them. Ryan acknowledged repeated interactions with Ji but said she had never met him privately or been lobbied by him about policy. There is no suggestion she sought the group's endorsement. 'Mr Ji has attended a small number of public campaign events and community forums, where he, along with many others, has appeared in group photos,' Ryan's spokeswoman said. 'Monique has not met with Mr Ji privately, he has never lobbied her on any policy matters … Any contact between Monique and Mr Ji has been incidental and limited to public events attended by large numbers of people, including the Hubei Chamber of Commerce dinner on April 21st.' Loading Swinburne University emeritus professor John Fitzgerald, a historian of China, said the business associations were generous backers of charitable and cultural activities in support of Beijing's soft power operations in Australia. Fitzgerald said of the video: 'The volunteer's transparency is admirable. If what she says is true, she was told by the director of one or two community associations linked to the communist party and government of China to encourage Chinese-Australian voters to support a preferred candidate, Monique Ryan.' 'Whether this direction falls under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme is not for me to say but that scheme places strict and specific obligations on relevant organisations during voting periods.' The Turnbull government in 2018 passed world-leading laws against foreign governments meddling in Australian affairs. While the government did not name China at the time, Turnbull said in 2023 that the 'key purpose' of a foreign interest register was to disclose the work of the United Front Work Department in Australia. 'The most active state and political party seeking to influence public affairs in Australia is China ... but they don't seem to appear on the register,' he told a parliamentary inquiry in February 2023. Loading A report from last week in local Chinese language media outlet Huawen Horizon cited Ji as the president of the Hubei associations and said he had advocated to 'deepen cooperation in business, culture and other fields'. He also said, 'Chinese have been active in participating in politics, business investment, and cultural communication, which has not only enhanced their own social influence, but also injected new vitality into Australia's prosperity,' according to the report. In a parliamentary speech from June, Ryan said delays in subclass 888 visas - known as 'golden ticket' visas that require $5 million of investment in Australia – were making it hard for some of the one-in-five Kooyong residents of Chinese heritage to do business. 'I fear that our Chinese-Australian communities are under threat from a system which is slow, complex and poorly designed and which breaks and holds families apart,' she said. The teal MP who defeated former treasurer Josh Frydenberg said during the 2022 election campaign that 'China is our biggest trade partner … [and] should be treated with respect and sensitivity not with macho, breast-beating belligerence.'
Sydney Morning Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Watch: Group with historical CCP links ‘required' Chinese Australians to vote for Ryan
In a statement, Ryan's spokeswoman confirmed one of the volunteers signed up to campaign against Liberal opponent Amelia Hamer after an April 21 dinner organised by another group Ji leads, but distanced the MP from Ji. 'On April 21st, Monique attended a community dinner hosted by the Hubei Chamber of Commerce, which Mr Ji Jianmin also attended,' the spokeswoman said. 'Following the event, some attendees, including Stephen – one of the people in the video – signed up to volunteer. Monique has had no interaction with Stephen beyond being present at that dinner.' 'Monique has had no interaction with Stephen beyond being present at that dinner. Monique cannot confirm whether Jessica attended the dinner, and, to her knowledge, she has not met her.' 'They are not personally known to her. She is aware that they have handed out flyers at a pre-poll location in Kew but has no knowledge of any further involvement in her campaign.' Ji leads the Hubei Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Hubei Association, both of which are for people from the central Chinese province home to almost 60 million residents and the seventh-largest economy in the country. He also oversees the Huaxing Arts Group, which is a performing arts organisation. The groups were formerly run by Tom 'Mr Chinatown' Zhou, who was arrested and extradited to China in 2020 over suspected money laundering and corruption following an investigation by this masthead into Crown casino junkets. Zhou's legal status is unclear, but the Herald Sun reported in 2023 that he was unlikely to be released for five years. Loading A 2018 submission by researchers Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske to a federal parliamentary inquiry cites the Australian Hubei Association as among 'United Front-linked business groups'. 'Hometown associations draw together Chinese-Australians on the basis of their city or province of birth with the aim of mutual aid and social networking,' the report reads. 'Not all of them are United Front organisations, although the larger ones are certainly of interest to the embassy and consulates.' It is common for groups representing the Chinese diaspora or doing business with the country to have some ties to the nation's government because of how embedded the state is in society, but the United Front goes further. President Xi Jinping said in 2015 that the 'United Front … is an important magic weapon for strengthening the party's ruling position … and an important magic weapon for realising the 'China Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation'.' The Huaxing group writes biannual reports to United Front and includes its database of Australian political figures and community groups, according to research published in 2020 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Ji was contacted for comment and acknowledged he had seen written questions from this masthead about his alleged endorsement of Ryan but did not respond to them. Ryan acknowledged repeated interactions with Ji but said she had never met him privately or been lobbied by him about policy. There is no suggestion she sought the group's endorsement. 'Mr Ji has attended a small number of public campaign events and community forums, where he, along with many others, has appeared in group photos,' Ryan's spokeswoman said. 'Monique has not met with Mr Ji privately, he has never lobbied her on any policy matters … Any contact between Monique and Mr Ji has been incidental and limited to public events attended by large numbers of people, including the Hubei Chamber of Commerce dinner on April 21st.' Loading Swinburne University emeritus professor John Fitzgerald, a historian of China, said the business associations were generous backers of charitable and cultural activities in support of Beijing's soft power operations in Australia. Fitzgerald said of the video: 'The volunteer's transparency is admirable. If what she says is true, she was told by the director of one or two community associations linked to the communist party and government of China to encourage Chinese-Australian voters to support a preferred candidate, Monique Ryan.' 'Whether this direction falls under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme is not for me to say but that scheme places strict and specific obligations on relevant organisations during voting periods.' The Turnbull government in 2018 passed world-leading laws against foreign governments meddling in Australian affairs. While the government did not name China at the time, Turnbull said in 2023 that the 'key purpose' of a foreign interest register was to disclose the work of the United Front Work Department in Australia. 'The most active state and political party seeking to influence public affairs in Australia is China ... but they don't seem to appear on the register,' he told a parliamentary inquiry in February 2023. Loading A report from last week in local Chinese language media outlet Huawen Horizon cited Ji as the president of the Hubei associations and said he had advocated to 'deepen cooperation in business, culture and other fields'. He also said, 'Chinese have been active in participating in politics, business investment, and cultural communication, which has not only enhanced their own social influence, but also injected new vitality into Australia's prosperity,' according to the report. In a parliamentary speech from June, Ryan said delays in subclass 888 visas - known as 'golden ticket' visas that require $5 million of investment in Australia – were making it hard for some of the one-in-five Kooyong residents of Chinese heritage to do business. 'I fear that our Chinese-Australian communities are under threat from a system which is slow, complex and poorly designed and which breaks and holds families apart,' she said. The teal MP who defeated former treasurer Josh Frydenberg said during the 2022 election campaign that 'China is our biggest trade partner … [and] should be treated with respect and sensitivity not with macho, breast-beating belligerence.'
