House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar has urged local officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Des Moines, Iowa, to reconsider their relationships with organizations linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moolenaar expressed concerns about cultural and educational exchanges that he says are being used by CCP-affiliated groups to influence American students.
In separate letters sent to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, Moolenaar described recent student trips to China that were funded by organizations connected to the CCP. He argued these trips function more as propaganda efforts than as genuine cultural exchanges.
According to Moolenaar, 31 students from 12 high schools in Montgomery County traveled to China in April through a program sponsored by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE). While CEAIE presents itself as a nonprofit organization, Moolenaar noted it is "explicitly guided by 'Xi Jinping Thought' and operates under direct CCP control."
Moolenaar also pointed out that in Des Moines, members of the Roosevelt High School gospel choir “Bridges 2 Harmony” participated in an exchange in July organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). He raised concerns over the group requiring students to download WeChat. According to Moolenaar, WeChat is "a CCP-controlled platform that censors political content and harvests personal data—raising serious concerns about surveillance and manipulation."
He stated that both CPAFFC and CEAIE have been identified by U.S. intelligence agencies as front groups working on behalf of Beijing’s United Front efforts. These initiatives aim "to co-opt local leaders and neutralize opposition to CCP policies," according to Moolenaar.
For more information or questions about these letters, Jack Clem can be contacted at Jack.Clem@mail.house.gov.
