Democrat rep was 'honorary chair' of CCP-backed intelligence front group

Democratic Representative Judy Chu of California was revealed to have been appointed to an honorary leadership position within an alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence front group in August 2019.

According to the Daily Caller, Chu was named "honorary chairwoman" of the Forums for Peaceful Reunification of China, an organization that opposes Taiwan’s independence. The US-China Economic Security and Review Commission (USCC) had previously identified the organization as serving a CCP "intelligence service."



The appointment was held during the 34th inauguration ceremony of the organization’s executive committee at the Capital Seafood restaurant in Monterey Park on August 23, 2019. Chu received a certificate at the event from Guo Zhiming, the incoming "chairman" of the Forums for Peaceful Reunification of China, stating that her appointment was in recognition of her "outstanding friendship and support."

At the event, Chu advocated against Taiwan’s independence and said she desired for China and Taiwan "to become one family."

According to the outlet, the organization is one of 33 anti-Taiwan independence organizations in the US which are subchapters of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPNR), which was labeled in 2018 by the USCC as "directly subordinate" to the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

At the time, the USCC stated that the UFWD’s "primary missions" are to "liaison with foreign political parties," conduct "influence operations" and "intelligence collection," and towards that end, the CCP deploys UFWD operatives around the world to "co-opt and neutralize" potential opposition groups such as "ethnic minorities, religious groups and intellectuals."

It is unclear if Chu remains the organization’s "honorary chairwoman" or is still involved with the organization.

However, Politico reported that Chu’s 2019 appointment as "honorary chairwoman" of the alleged UFWD front group appears in contrast with her previous public support for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US in August 2018, during which time Chu and two other congressmen welcomed Tsai at the Los Angeles airport.

In August 2022, CNN reported that Chu claimed that she’d "always supported Taiwan" prior to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. Yet, she never offered firm support for Pelosi’s visit and claimed she would "leave it up to those who are going to make that decision."

Chu recently voted against the formation of the House Select Committee tasked with investigating how the US can better combat CCP espionage and how the US military should counter Beijing’s aggressive actions in the waters surrounding Taiwan. Chu claimed at the time that the committee could create anti-Asian violence.

The Daily Caller previously reported that Chu served as the "honorary president" of the All America Chinese Youth Federation since 2012, an organization whose leadership includes several people who have also belonged to other alleged front groups for the CCP’s UFWD.

The Forums for Peaceful Reunification of China has worked with the CCP government and the Los Angeles Chinese Consulate as well as the CCPPNR since its inception.

The Jamestown Foundation reported in 2018 that CCPPNR’s front groups have spread propaganda "closely aligned" with official CCP propaganda, citing a statement from the website of the National Association for China’s Peaceful Unification (NACPU), which stated that the “U.S. government and Congress” agree not to fight in a “possible war” between Beijing and Taipei “caused by the provocation of separatism in Taiwan.”