Governor Tim Walz's connections with China have attracted significant attention recently.
According to Fox News, a newly revealed letter has intensified scrutiny over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's deep ties with China, amidst rising concerns about potential influence operations by the Chinese Communist Party.
Governor Walz, the current Democratic vice presidential nominee, authored a letter in 2021 to celebrate a critical milestone of the Minnesota International Chinese School.
In the communication, Walz detailed Minnesota's robust engagement with China, highlighting the state's hosting of several senior Chinese leaders over the years and the strong educational and trade links developed between the two regions.
Governor Walz reinforced this message by mentioning the ancestral roots of many Minnesotans in China which, according to him, have helped in fostering the state's connections with the East Asian nation. Additional comments in the letter shed light on increasing educational collaborations and investment opportunities benefitting both Minnesota and China.
Within his letter, Governor Walz expressed heartfelt congratulations to the Minnesota International Chinese School on reaching its decade-long anniversary. He acknowledged the role of the school in promoting understanding and cooperation between Minnesota and China.
Zhao Jian, the Consul General of China in Chicago, echoed this sentiment by contributing a greeting to the school's celebratory event, which came shortly after the release of Walz’s letter. The proximity of these messages has drawn analysis from observers of international relations, especially within the context of the Biden administration's concerns over foreign influence in the United States, as outlined in the 2022 Director of National Intelligence report.
Governor Walz has frequently defended the benefits of a robust relationship with China. His past experiences as an English and American history teacher in Guangdong and his repeated travels to China, including for personal milestones like his honeymoon, have shaped his views.
The political implications of Governor Walz's connections are currently under examination. An earlier meeting this year between Walz and Zhao Jian to discuss China-U.S. relations has raised eyebrows, given the strategic interests of both countries in their bilateral dealings.
Governor Walz's comments from various points in his career provide further background to his perspective on China. In a 1991 lecture, he highlighted certain aspects of the Chinese communist system, such as state-provided housing and food, as positive features.
"I've lived in China and, as I've said, I've been there about 30 times... I don't fall into the category that China necessarily needs to be an adversarial relationship. I totally disagree, and I think we need to stand firm on what they're doing in the South China Sea, but there are many areas of cooperation we can work on."
The choice of Walz as a vice-presidential candidate has sparked discussions on national security implications. A Department of Homeland Security official hinted at potential benefits for Chinese influence strategies in the U.S. through Walz’s nomination. Moreover, the presence of Chinese Communist Party members on the boards of institutions like the Henan Cancer Institute, with which Minnesota entities have collaborated, complicates the narrative.
In 2014, Walz's welcome to a Chinese delegation at a Minnesota-based medical research institute stirred controversy because of the institute's ties to a company regarded as a "Chinese military company." The House Oversight Committee has flagged these types of interactions as potential targets for CCP influence in local U.S. politics.
As Governor Walz continues to navigate his vice-presidential campaign and defend his record, the strategic and political ramifications of his past affiliations and ongoing dialogues with Chinese officials remain prominent topics for voters and policymakers alike.
