Blue state governor touts meeting with CCP official cozying up to Dems: 'Grateful for the opportunity'

FIRST ON FOX: A Democratic politician enthusiastically posted photos with a Chinese Communist Party diplomat connected Wednesday evening, saying she was "grateful for the opportunity" to conscionable with him.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who went viral precocious past twelvemonth for vowing to usage "every tool" to combat backmost against President Donald Trump's deportations, took to X to item a gathering she and 1 of her apical appointees had with Chen Li, the consul wide of the People's Republic of China, successful New York.

"Massachusetts is location to a vibrant Chinese-American community, and China is 1 of our largest trading partners," Healey wrote successful a X post, which included 3 photos. "Glad to invited Ambassador H.E. Chen Li of the People's Republic to China to the State House, and grateful for the accidental to sermon aboriginal collaboration!"

All 3 photos included Healey and Li, whose jurisdiction covers astir a twelve states. However, 1 photograph besides included now-former Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, an American-born national whose parents are originally from China. Hao's past authoritative time successful her relation was earlier this month, according to section outlets. However, she is inactive serving successful the Healey medication arsenic an unpaid advisor.

BROTHER-IN-LAW OF TOP DEM SENATOR PLAYED KEY ROLE IN RECRUITING CHINESE FIRMS TO DEEP BLUE CITY

From near to right, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, CCP authoritative Chen Li and now-former Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development, Yvonne Hao. (Gov. Healey connected X)

A property merchandise from Healey’s bureau connected Wednesday highlighted however Massachusetts and China "shared economical and taste ties" successful summation to their "commitment to continuing to enactment unneurotic for the payment of our radical and our economy."

"China is Massachusetts 3rd largest trading partner, with implicit $7.2 cardinal worthy of goods exchanged successful 2024. In 2024, Massachusetts imported $3.4 cardinal successful goods from China, including toys, games and sports equipment, apparel and accessories," the property merchandise continued. "Massachusetts exported $3.8 cardinal successful goods to China successful 2024, including concern machinery, aesculapian devices and plastics."

She appeared to past effort to warrant the gathering by highlighting however she makes "it a precedence to conscionable with overseas officials erstwhile they sojourn Massachusetts," listing disconnected respective overseas officials who she has met with, including the "Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Ahmed Dadou, and Singapore's Ambassador to the United States Lui Tuck Yew."

Li, who has repeatedly praised the CCP and echoed the party’s talking points astir Uyghur genocide allegations being "fabricated," responded to Healey’s station by quoting it and saying helium was "honored to person a precise pleasant conversation" with Healey. He added that helium was "focusing connected the practice betwixt China and Massachusetts."

SCHUMER SPOTTED POSING FOR PHOTO WITH CCP OFFICIAL AS WARNINGS SWIRL ABOUT CHINA INFLUENCE

Sen. Chuck Schumer and China's New York Consul General astatine Lunar New Year Parade. (China NY Consulate connected X)

Fox News Digital has extensively reported connected the power that Li and his predecessors person had successful the United States, which has included cozying up to Democratic politicians similar Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Gov. Kathy Hochul, successful summation to administrators astatine apical American universities crossed respective states connected the East Coast, including Kean University President Lamont Repollet.

Chen, similar his predecessor Huang Ping, has repeatedly praised the CCP and denied China’s alleged genocide against the Uyghur population, which has been condemned by galore connected the satellite stage, including the United Nations.

"It’s hard to ideate however could ‘genocide’ and ‘forced labor’ associated with specified a spot wherever colonisation grows steadily, nine is harmless and open, and radical bask blessed life. Where bash the accusations travel from?" Chen wrote successful 2021. "‘Genocide’ was claimed by erstwhile US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo connected the precise past time of his term. It was based connected reports fabricated by immoderate extremist anti-China individuals who haven’t been to Xinjiang for years and accounts of a fewer alleged witnesses who were proved to beryllium trained ‘actors’ and ‘actresses.’" 

Michael Sobolik, an adept connected U.S.-China relations and a Hudson Institute elder fellow, antecedently told Fox News Digital that the "Chinese Communist Party is ever looking for ways to penetrate U.S. businesses and civilian society. We shouldn’t marque their occupation easier for them."

Earlier this year, Chen posted aggregate times astir participating successful New York City parades, which included Schumer and anti-Trump Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He besides met with Sen. Richard Blumenthal's brother-in-law to airy up the Empire State Building to people the Lunar New Year, a contented betwixt the Chinese Consulate and the Empire State Building that goes backmost implicit a decade.

Prior to Chen, Ping was successful his presumption betwixt 2018 and 2024. Ping was implicated successful an unsealed indictment against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s erstwhile lawman main of staff, Linda Sun, who was charged "with violating and conspiring to interruption the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and wealth laundering conspiracy," according to a Justice Department property release. 

Huang Ping was implicated successful an unsealed indictment against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s erstwhile lawman main of staff, Linda Sun, right, who was charged "with violating and conspiring to interruption the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and wealth laundering conspiracy," (Getty Images)

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The indictment revealed then-Lt. Gov. Hochul wanted to notation the "Uyghur situation" successful China for her 2021 Lunar New Year message, but the plight of the number radical being persecuted by the Chinese authorities was yet omitted aft Sun overruled the speechwriter.

The indictment alleges Sun revealed to Ping what the speechwriter wanted to include, but insisted that she would not fto her brag notation Uyghurs aft admitting that she was "starting to suffer her temper" with the speechwriter. The indictment aboriginal elaborate different exchanges she had with Ping and said helium talented her parents with Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by his cook successful speech for her assistance successful influencing the governor's policies.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Gov. Healey's office.