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Natalie Winters@nataliegwinters · Jul 17, 2026

EXC: Some of the biggest names in media participated in private dinners and China trips organized by a Chinese…

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Summary

Major U.S. and international media outlets including CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, and others participated in private dinners and China trips organized by a Chinese Communist Party influence operation seeking favorable coverage of China. The effort was documented in Foreign Agents Registration Act filings submitted to the Department of Justice by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, which was founded by the Vice Chairman of China's United Front organization.

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  1. #1

    EXC: Some of the biggest names in media participated in private dinners and China trips organized by a Chinese Communist Party influence operation seeking to generate “favorable coverage” and “disseminate positive messages” about China. The outlets named include: • CNN • The New York Times • The Washington Post • Reuters • The Wall Street Journal • Bloomberg • BBC • Associated Press • TIME • The Atlantic 🧵

  2. #2

    The group behind the effort was the China-United States Exchange Foundation. CUSEF was founded the Vice Chairman of China’s leading international influence and espionage organization — the United Front. The U.S. government says its purpose is to: “co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition” to the Chinese Communist Party.

  3. #3

    CUSEF’s American lobbying firm described its objective in a FARA filing: “effectively disseminate positive messages to the media, key influencers and opinion leaders, and the general public.” The filings then explain exactly how the group planned to achieve it.

  4. #4

    The agreement states: “In order to develop favorable coverage in key national media, BLJ will continue to organize and staff ‘familiarization trips’ to China.” It continues: “This includes recruiting top journalists to travel to China, selected for effectiveness and opportunities for favorable coverage.”

  5. #5

    Another FARA filing states: “We also arranged private dinners in New York and Washington DC on behalf of CUSEF.” The attendees included journalists from: • The New York Times • CNN • The Washington Post • Reuters • The Wall Street Journal • Bloomberg • Associated Press • CBS News • BBC • Financial Times • Forbes • The Atlantic • TIME • AFP • Los Angeles Times • The Hill

  6. #6

    None of this comes from anonymous sources. It comes directly from Foreign Agents Registration Act filings submitted to the Department of Justice by representatives working on behalf of CUSEF itself. Read the full investigation: open.substack.com/pub/nataliegwi…