Elaine Chao Held Multiple Chinese Government Posts While Serving in U.S. Cabinet
Documents uncovered show that Elaine Chao occupied several positions appointed by Chinese Communist Party bodies, some of which overlapped with her tenure as U.S. Labor and Transportation secretary.
Translations of Chinese government and state media reports, reveal that Elaine Chao was appointed to at least four roles within United Front Work Department (UFWD) entities and other Chinese advisory bodies from 2008 onward. Some of these appointments overlapped with her U.S. cabinet service as Labor secretary (2001-2009) and Transportation secretary (2017-2021). The records show Chao corresponded with UFWD officials as early as 2004, sending a handwritten reply to a Christmas card, and later accepting titles such as advisor to the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and honorary chairmanships in the China Overseas Friendship Association.
Her father and late sister were also listed as holding UFWD-linked positions. Chao’s spokesperson asserted she never held a foreign government role and criticized the investigation as racist. Experts cited in the report argue that any UFWD affiliation poses a counter-intelligence risk for U.S. officials.
Why it matters
Foreign appointments to a U.S. cabinet member raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest and national security.
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