Biden’s potential ambassador to Israel heads pro-China think tank.

Jack Lew: Cozying Up to Beijing​ and Its Growing Influence

President Biden’s potential⁣ ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, ‌has raised concerns due to his close ties with Chinese ‍Communist Party officials. As the chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, a group known for its pro-China stance, Lew has been praised by Chinese state media. This raises ‌questions⁢ about his ability to address ‍Beijing’s increasing influence ‍in the Middle East and the growing relationship between Israel and China.

Lew, who is the frontrunner for ‌the ambassadorship, leads an advisory group that advocates for stronger business ⁢and ‌diplomatic ties between the United States and ⁤China. ⁣The committee is funded by major corporations like Citigroup,⁣ Blackstone, and BlackRock, which have​ been labeled as “powerful friends” of China by the Wall Street Journal.

Since assuming ‌his role in January 2021, Lew has hosted top Chinese Communist Party​ officials and met with China’s foreign minister in Beijing. During these meetings, he has echoed China’s narrative, blaming the United States for tensions in the‌ bilateral relationship. Lew has also participated ⁤in events organized by the Chinese People’s Association for ‌Friendship with Foreign⁤ Countries, an organization involved in foreign influence operations for the CCP.

While China may⁤ not be‍ Lew’s primary focus as ambassador to Israel, his views‌ on U.S.-China relations will ⁤undoubtedly impact his⁤ dealings with ‍Jerusalem. The U.S. ⁢government ‌has been pressuring Israel​ to sever ties with China, and the Biden administration has sought to establish‌ a pact between Israel and Saudi Arabia to counter China’s influence in the Middle East.

Experts who study China’s influence activities have criticized groups like the ​National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Asia Society for being consistently soft ‍on China. Anders Corr, an intelligence analyst and publisher of the Journal of ‍Political Risk, argues that individuals with strong links to China should ⁢not have a place in U.S. politics.

The‍ leaders of the National Committee on‍ U.S.-China Relations often appear on Chinese state television to criticize‍ U.S. ‌foreign policy towards China while downplaying Beijing’s aggressive actions.⁣ Stephen Orlins, the committee’s ‍president, has even described‌ the Trump‍ administration’s approach to China as a ​”four-year nightmare.”

In contrast, Lew has taken a conciliatory approach in his interactions with CCP officials. During a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang⁣ Yi, Lew emphasized the interdependence between the ⁣U.S. and China and dismissed the idea of economic decoupling. This aligns with Wang’s call for the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations to stabilize the bilateral relationship and promote cooperation.

Lew’s⁣ participation ‌in events organized by the Chinese People’s Association ‍for Friendship with Foreign Countries has⁤ also raised concerns. The Biden⁢ administration has warned that this association‍ uses its exchange programs to covertly advance China’s global agenda.

If confirmed as ambassador ⁤to Israel, ​Lew ⁣will join a⁤ group of ⁢Biden-appointed ambassadors who have been criticized for their close ties ‍to CCP‌ interests. Eric Garcetti and Caroline Kennedy, ambassadors to India and Australia respectively, have served on⁢ the board of ⁤the Asia Society. Mark Brzezinski, the ambassador to ⁤Poland, has⁣ been paid by​ a Chinese Communist Party advisory panel, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the ambassador to the United Nations, has faced scrutiny for ‌her speech at a⁣ Confucius Institute.

Despite these concerns, neither the National Committee on⁣ U.S.-China Relations nor the White House has responded ⁣to requests for comment.