In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, US media has focused much of its scrutiny on the Trump Administration’s possible ties to the Russian government. Although mainstream media coverage of possible ties between the Trump Administration and the PRC has been sparse, China experts have paid close attention to official and unofficial signs of the dynamics of emerging US-China relations.
When would Xi visit the United States, and where was the follow up to the New York Times revelations about deals between Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and China’s Anbang Insurance Corporation?
Jared Kushner, a Trump In-Law and Adviser, Chases a Chinese Deal – The New York Times dinner w anbang founder https://t.co/SKxhpjOvWX
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) January 7, 2017
Reporters tracked foreign investment by Chinese corporations.
New York Times Reporter, Mike Forsythe:
Anbang Stories – Pinned on January 31
On March 2, a rumor surfaced on Twitter via a Chinese businessman visiting Mar-a-Lago.
Is the Chinese VIP guo says going to mar a lago in three weeks xi Jinping, as the rumors I tweeted last week suggested? https://t.co/fLwlF2vGmC
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) March 10, 2017
On March 13, the news broke that Xi would be visiting Mar-a-Lago.
Trump to host Xi at Mar-a-Lago https://t.co/AoEsUXb5LF
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 13, 2017
Followed almost immediately by:
The Kushners are set to get $400 million from Chinese on marquee tower https://t.co/cvxB6IQ4we pic.twitter.com/1C4qJTjkTf
— Bloomberg (@business) March 13, 2017
Conversation ensued:
So far it looks like kushner is having a very profitable "results-based" relationship with china https://t.co/g0wlBLCC5f
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) March 14, 2017
In China, this is how you get influence. Kushners, Trump In-Laws, Near $400 Million Deal with Chinese Firm https://t.co/SkQAFD3eYJ
— Carlos Tejada (@CRTejada) March 14, 2017
Must-read column on Anbang and the Kushners from @TimOBrien https://t.co/XPPaTO6xrN — THIS IS EXACTLY HOW PRINCELINGS BECOME RICH IN CHINA
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) March 14, 2017
But, wait, what’s happening to the data on Anbang’s website?
Mike Forsythe tweeted:
10:07am
Holy cow. China AIC website now only lists 8 of Anbang's 39 shareholders. U can still see the others in the annual reports if u scroll down. pic.twitter.com/Ygkqt1Trqq
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) March 14, 2017
10:09am
1. As we reported, 35 of 39 Anbang shareholders, controlling 92% of the company, can trace all or part of their ownership to three people..
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) March 14, 2017
2. Those three people are Wu Xiaohui, his (ex?) wife Zhuo Ran (Deng's granddaughter) and Chen Xiaolu, son of Marshal Chen Yi.
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) March 14, 2017
3. Those three people are no longer shareholders according to the AIC records, though some of Wu's relatives are.
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) March 14, 2017
12:10pm White House Press Briefing:
Spicer says a question about the Anbang deal should go "to the Kushner Companies."
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) March 14, 2017
But then, late on March 14, Anbang released a statement saying there was no intention to invest in the Kushner property:
Following up with Anbang
Told ya' @niubi @prchovanec https://t.co/dUzJBMmIp6
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) March 15, 2017
What will develop next? Think this story’s over? Don’t believe a tweet of it…..
NYT Reporter tracking Anbang financials