A long-buried social media post from 2013 has resurfaced, casting fresh light on Rep. Eric Swalwell’s early interactions with Chinese officials.
In an uncovered a Facebook post from China’s San Francisco consulate dated 2013, depicting then-freshman Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) meeting with Song Ru’an, the Deputy Consul General at the time. The post, liked by Christine “Fang Fang” Fang—a Chinese national later suspected of ties to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS)—shows Swalwell speaking optimistically about U.S.-China cooperation.
This image emerges just weeks after reports of donations to Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign from a California-based law partner linked to a Beijing firm.
The reemergence of this photo has renewed scrutiny over Swalwell’s past associations. Critics point to the timing, as this meeting occurred during a period when Fang Fang was reportedly involved with Swalwell’s campaign, aiding in fundraising efforts.
Let’s rewind to 2012, when Swalwell, then a Dublin City, California, council member, was first photographed with Fang Fang. They appeared together again at a 2013 Chinese New Year event hosted by a student association she led. Their connection deepened, with Fang Fang allegedly helping place an intern in his office by 2014, according to intelligence sources cited in a 2020 Axios report.
By 2015, U.S. intelligence officials grew alarmed enough to brief Swalwell and congressional leaders about Fang Fang’s activities, believed to be part of an MSS influence operation between 2011 and 2015. According to Fox News, Swalwell cut ties with her immediately after the briefing, per sources. Still, the shadow of those years lingers as he campaigns for California governor.
Song Ru’an, the diplomat in the 2013 photo, isn’t just a footnote. Before and after his San Francisco post, Ru’an held significant roles in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later as Deputy Commissioner in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2021, where he criticized U.S. policies like the 2019 Human Rights and Democracy Act.
Ru’an also urged foreign media to “inject positive energy” into coverage of China’s extradition laws in Hong Kong during 2019, according to the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Such efforts to shape narratives raise questions about the nature of his earlier interactions with American officials like Swalwell.
Even before Hong Kong, while in San Francisco, Ru’an and consular colleagues reportedly attempted to block a mural in Oregon highlighting China’s human rights issues against Tibetans. This pattern of advocacy for Beijing’s interests adds a layer of unease to that 2013 meeting.
Swalwell’s time on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) further complicates the narrative, as news of his Fang Fang ties broke in 2020 via Axios. Handling sensitive national security matters, his position drew sharp criticism, with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy later barring him from the committee in 2023 over security concerns.
McCarthy didn’t mince words, stating, “The recklessness in which he lived his life, the reports that have come back, I think it would be hard for him to ever even be considered as a governor candidate, period.” That’s a heavy charge, and it fuels doubts about entrusting Swalwell with California’s leadership, a state pivotal to U.S.-China trade and tech.
GOP strategist Colin Reed also weighed in, saying, “California's next governor needs to have the intelligence, judgment, and character to stand up to the CCP, especially when it comes to empowering American innovators with a common sense regulatory environment that allows them to grow.” It’s a pointed jab—can a leader with such past entanglements prioritize American interests over foreign influence?
Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing, and a multi-year congressional ethics report found no basis for action against him. Yet, House Republicans’ failed 2021 attempt to remove him from HPSCI, followed by McCarthy’s 2023 decision, shows the issue hasn’t faded. His team declined to comment on this latest photo.
The San Francisco Chinese Consulate also stayed silent when approached by Fox News Digital. That lack of response leaves gaps, letting speculation fester about what these past interactions truly meant.
As Swalwell eyes California’s governorship, the stakes couldn’t be higher. U.S. officials have long warned of Beijing’s use of diplomats and networks like the United Front to build ties with American politicians. This photo, paired with Fang Fang’s shadow, keeps the question alive: Are some relationships too risky for public trust?
