Questioning John Liu’s Connection with the CCP

Many residents of the small Queens community of Flushing are raising Concerns over Council Member John Liu, and his stance on a recent string of attacks in his district, and his possible alliances with the Chinese communist party that may be influencing his policies.
Questioning John Liu’s Connection with the CCP
Joshua Philipp
8/15/2008
Updated:
9/7/2009
FLUSHING, New York City—Many residents of the small Queens community of Flushing are raising Concerns over Council Member John Liu, and his stance on a recent string of attacks in his district, and his possible alliances with the Chinese communist party that may be influencing his policies.

A newspaper article published on June 29 by China Press (Chao Bao) quoted Assemblywoman Ellen Young saying that she had, “reached a consensus with City Councilmember John Liu and the 109th precinct of the NYPD to no longer issue permits for group activities in high foot-traffic areas.” The report is believed to have referred to denying permits to Falun Gong practitioners’ activities, such as press conferences and parades that had been held in the area.

The article was published after strings of attacks against local residents that practice Falun Gong, a Chinese meditation practice based on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, occurred in Flushing. During the attacks, which began on May 17, groups of Chinese numbering in the hundreds waved Chinese communist flags, physically attacked, spat on, and made death threats at Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing.

Shortly following the publication of the article, it was reported that both Liu and Young had met with groups of Chinese who included those who had allegedly attacked Falun Gong practitioners, some of whom had been arrested by police for their actions.

On June 30, during a press conference, Liu was asked about his stance on attacks against Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing. Liu repeatedly denied knowledge of the incident. During the same conference, a reporter asked John Liu whether the allegations to stop Falun Gong activities were true; Liu denied knowledge of the report. He was then handed a copy of the above-mentioned China Press article. When asked again, Liu responded by shouting “I don’t think anybody has talked about limiting anybody’s rights,”

Liu’s behavior during the conference concerned many local residents and shortly after, Flushing residents launched a committee to remove both Liu and Young from office. Investigations into Liu and his practices were also initiated.

Last year, Liu reportedly met with the deputy director of the Chinese State Council’s Overseas Chinese Office, a high-level government department that is responsible for advancing the Chinese regime’s overseas agendas.

The day following the meeting, Liu was given an award by a collection of Chinese state-run media titled, “The World is Beautiful Because of You.” Government websites in Chongqing and Shandong province then reportedly posted praises of Liu on their websites.

Liu’s fundraising efforts have also been reported in Chinese state-run media, including ChinaNews.com.cn.

In 2006 Liu was invited to China after being nominated one of the “Most Influential Overseas Chinese,” by 10 media companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) including Phoenix Satellite TV, World Daily, and the China News Service.

The CCP controlled media, Xinhua Net website reported in March 2007 that Liu had traveled to China. After his trip, SinoVision then interviewed Liu, SinoVision, a Chinese language television station headquartered in New York, is one of the media responsible for spreading propaganda and inciting hatred against Falun Gong practitioners during the recent attacks in Flushing.

According to Zhang Jielian, an expert on China relations, Ming Daily, China Press, and other media affiliated with the Chinese regime serve as the CCP’s mouthpiece in the U.S.

In an article published in the Jamestown Foundation’s magazine, China Brief, entitled, “How China’s Government is Attempting to Control Chinese Media in America,” it was reported that out of the four main Chinese newspapers in the U.S., World Journal, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Daily, and China Press, three are directly controlled by the Chinese regime.

The article continues by mentioning that China Daily established in New York in 1990 is directly controlled by the CCP and serves to represent the voice and point of view of the regime.
Joshua Philipp is an award-winning investigative reporter with The Epoch Times and host of EpochTV's "Crossroads" program. He is a recognized expert on unrestricted warfare, asymmetrical hybrid warfare, subversion, and historical perspectives on today’s issues. His 10-plus years of research and investigations on the Chinese Communist Party, subversion, and related topics give him unique insight into the global threat and political landscape.
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