Lobbyists with Chinese Connections Targeted in New Rubio Bill

US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the CCP Lobbying Divestment Act to counter American Defense contractors’ potential conflicts of interest. 

If passed, the legislation would prohibit companies receiving American defense contracts from hiring lobbyists simultaneously employed by Chinese military companies. 

The act also prevents defense contractors from employing lobbyists working for US-sanctioned Chinese companies as well as those involved in Uyghur Human Rights abuses. 

“Too many lobbying firms are reaping the financial benefits of representing clients with DoD contracts while also working for those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” said Senator Rubio. 

Rubio continued on X, calling the ongoing employment of lobbyists simultaneously working for Chinese companies and American defense contractors a “huge conflict of interest.”

Since 2022, China has reportedly spent nearly $100 million in US lobbying efforts.

A significant portion of lobbying funds were contributed by China Daily of Beijing, a newspaper managed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

China Daily is managed by the Propaganda Department of the CCP, officially known as the Publicity Department of the CCP. 

Last March, the Floridian reported how China Daily was funding newspapers across the US. 

Records released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed sundry American media outlets, including Florida’s Sun Sentinel Newspaper, received millions from China Daily. 

According to the DOJ’s records, the Sun Sentinel received six payments amounting to over thirty thousand dollars in funding.

Other notable American media entities receiving Chinese funding were The Seattle Times, the Houston Chronicle, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, TIME, USA Today, the Financial Times, and the Chicago Tribune. 

Together, the newspapers received over $8 million from the CCP. 

Rubio responded to the DOJ report by submitting a letter to each of the newspapers urging them to cease accepting Chinese payments.