California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Liaison Office to China is headed by the daughter of a computer scientist tied to a genealogy database related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This database reportedly has significant links to Chinese intelligence and military sectors, according to an investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Amy Tong has held various positions in the Newsom administration, including her current role as a senior counselor for the governor, as documented in state records. She has been assigned to engage with CCP officials and Chinese intelligence contacts, with Newsom affirming her role in these communications.
Interestingly, her father, Peter Huang, is the founder of a nonprofit organization, which has been flagged for collecting sensitive personal data from Chinese-American families for the Chinese government. Experts warn that this information could be used by Beijing to intrude upon the lives of U.S. citizens.
Gordon Chang, an expert on China, expressed concerns, noting that the more the Chinese government knows about families abroad, the easier it becomes for them to exert influence. He pointed out that the genealogy database can be manipulated to turn relatives into potential informants for the regime.
Huang and his nonprofit, the Dazhonghua Family Tree Development Association, have a longstanding association with the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD). Insights from the organization’s reports indicate that it includes high-ranking party members and government officials in its data collection.
Neither Tong nor Huang responded to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation regarding their affiliations. A spokesperson for Newsom mentioned that Tong engages in formal consultations with appropriate federal agencies but did not elaborate on her family’s connections to the Chinese government.
Dazupu has established various collaborations with the Chinese government and claims to be a member of the UFWD. The platform allows individuals to input genealogy information, continuing to build a comprehensive database representing over 189,000 individuals, many located in the U.S.
Huang has voiced that promoting Chinese genealogy culture is integral to realizing China’s broader national goals. This aligns with UFWD’s objectives, which involve fostering connections with overseas Chinese communities while gathering intelligence.
It’s apparent that significant figures within the Chinese military, like Fang Guojun, have participated in Dazupu’s activities as honorary consultants, raising alarms about potential surveillance and manipulation tactics aimed at the Chinese diaspora. Observers highlight that such operations under the guise of community engagement could lead to serious threats, including cross-border oppression.
While there’s no direct evidence linking Tong to China’s intelligence efforts, her repeated interactions with UFWD affiliates and participation in governmental events sponsored by these groups raise eyebrows. There have been instances where she represented California at UFWD-sponsored occasions, promoting stronger exchanges with China.
Concerns about U.S. officials associated with organizations aligned to the CCP remain high. Observers stress that the overlap between civil servant roles and engagement with these entities is troubling and could compromise American interests.
