U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has penned a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling for an investigation into the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA). Banks referenced a recent article that alleges a connection between USHCA and the Chinese United Front Work Department (UWFD), an influential group advocating for the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"According to the DCNF's reporting, at least four senior officials at USHCA have worked with United Front Work Department (UFWD) proxies,” said Rep. Banks in the letter," said Rep. Jim Banks, US Rep. (R-IN). "These proxies include the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Western Returned Scholars Association, a Beijingbased think tank called the Center for China and Globalization, and the China-United States Exchange Foundation, which is a FARA-registered group. Per the reporting, one of these senior USHCA officials, a strategic advisor named Zhao Suisheng, has worked directly for China's government in a variety of advisory positions."
In his correspondence with Garland, Banks asserted that the USHCA maintains ties with the CCP, specifically with the United Work Front UWFD. He noted that one USHCA official had previously worked directly for the Chinese government. "The UWFD has a 'goal of manipulating these officials to serve the CCP’s interests,'" said Banks, labeling the situation as an "urgent national security matter." The Daily Caller News Foundation was cited by Banks as being the original source of this information.
According to the Daily Caller, this is not the first time USHCA has come under scrutiny for its relations with China. While USHCA characterizes its work as "building bridges and promoting opportunities" between the U.S. and China, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) referred to it in 2021 as a "conduit" of UFWD. Additionally, U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) stated that CCP uses UFWD to "manipulate American people and interfere in all levels of our government, including state and local governments." Banks also sent a letter to Mayor Sue Finkam about her city of Carmel, Indiana's membership in USHCA, urging withdrawal due to collaboration with CCP—a step she took in February 2024.
A report published by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in 2018 detailed implications of Chinese UFWD for America. It labeled China's "United Front" as an intelligence asset responsible for executing "influence operations," both domestically and internationally, primarily targeting Chinese communities. The commission underscored the complexity and concealment of these influencing efforts, urging a U.S. response.
"Now that Congress has the facts, we need to figure out a federal response," Banks stated as per the Daily Caller. "I’m confident that Indiana leaders will lead the way in the fight against the Heartland Association and other groups tied to CCP United Front activities. We need to drive this CCP influence operation out of our state and then the entire country."
As per his official website, Banks was elected in 2016 and currently chairs the Republican Study Committee in the 117th Congress. He also serves on various committees including the House Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Education and Workforce, and the House Select Committee on U.S.-China Strategic Competition.
