FIRST ON FOX: A high diplomat of the Chinese language Communist Get together, who just lately changed a controversial official with deep ties to high New York Democrats, just lately touted his relationship with an American college president and former high training official in New Jersey.
Chen Li, who assumed the position of consul common of the Individuals’s Republic of China in New York final month, took to social media final week to reward the “warm hospitality” he obtained from Kean College President Lamont Repollet.
“Absolutely overwhelmed by the warm hospitality from President Repollet. I truly felt at home on this campus,” Li wrote on X. “The commitment to bilateral educational exchange and people to people connections is key to the success of Wenzhou-Kean University, a Chinese-American joint institution.”
Repollet, who served as New Jersey’s commissioner of training below Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy for greater than two years, was seen smiling in two of the pictures that Li posted. In line with Repollet’s Kean College biography, he was in command of “overseeing the shift to remote education amid the COVID-19 pandemic and playing a key role in planning for the 2020-2021 school year.”
China’s New York Consul Common Chen Li posing with Kean College’s Lamont Repollet. (Chinese language Consul Common New York )
Regardless of Biden and Trump administration officers warning in regards to the affect of the CCP, Repollet has developed deep ties to China relationship again a number of years, a Fox Information Digital evaluate discovered. He most just lately visited Beijing in October of this 12 months to provide a keynote speech on the Triennial Convention of the Worldwide Affiliation of College Presidents, which was held in Beijing.
Press releases from the convention emphasised how Repollet was passionate about fairness in training and that his keynote speech highlighted how “AI is a revolutionary tool that can foster equity and transform how we engage with students and support their success.”
“AI has the power to help close achievement gaps and ensure that every student, no matter their challenges, has access to high-quality educational resources,” he continued. “By offering personalized learning experiences, AI empowers historically marginalized students with the tools they need to succeed.”
Months earlier, Chinese language state media amplified China President Xi Jinping’s letter to Repollet, which was in response to a letter he despatched to Xi, in response to state media.
Chinese language President Xi Jinping speaks throughout his inspection of the Western Theater Command of the Individuals’s Liberation Military on July 26, 2023. (Li Gang/Xinhua through Getty Photographs)
“Recently, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Lamont Repollet, president of Kean University of the United States, encouraging Chinese and American universities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and contribute to China-U.S. friendship,” the Chinese language authorities mentioned in a press launch.
“Recalling witnessing the signing ceremony of the China-U.S. cooperation agreement on jointly establishing Wenzhou-Kean University in 2006 at Kean University, Xi Jinping said he is pleased to see that with the joint efforts of both sides, Wenzhou-Kean University has achieved remarkable results and become a landmark project in China-U.S. educational cooperation.”
“Xi expressed appreciation for what Repollet said in his letter about deepening cooperation with Wenzhou-Kean University and encouraging American students to come to China for exchange and study, and called on universities of the two countries to step up exchanges and cooperation through different modalities to cultivate young envoys who know both countries well, and build more bridges to promote China-U.S. friendship,” the assertion continued.
President Xi Jinping meets the press following the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an, China, Might 19, 2023. (Li Xueren/Xinhua through Getty Photographs)
Moreover, a press launch from Wenzhou-Kean College touted Repollet’s “momentous” go to to China in April 2023.
“Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet and his delegation embarked on a momentous visit to Wenzhou, marking the first visit in three years,” the press launch mentioned. “This visit presented a unique opportunity to strengthen the interactions between the two universities, foster people-to-people exchanges between Zhejiang province and New Jersey in the United States, and enhance the long-standing friendship between the two countries.”
The press launch mentioned Repollet arrived in China on March 20, 2023, and he “wasted no time” assembly with Wenzhou Get together Secretary Shuji Liu Xiaotao.
“Mr. Liu Xiaotao expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to build a model of Sino-US cooperation in education and foster a bridge of friendly exchanges, with a bright future ahead for the university,” the press launch states. “President Repollet extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Wenzhou government for its unwavering support toward the construction and development of WKU.”
Xiaotao has been a member of the Chinese language Communist Get together since 1991 and has served in numerous roles over the previous few many years.
Moreover, a Chinese language state media firm held an occasion in New York Metropolis in September of this 12 months that listed Repollet as a speaker the place, in response to a press launch, he “emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding between nations.”
The slate of audio system included a number of Chinese language officers, together with Xie Feng, Chinese language ambassador to the U.S., and Shen Haixiong, the deputy minister of the publicity division of the CPC Central Committee. Haixiong additionally serves as the pinnacle of the China Media Group, which is a vital media conglomerate that performs a serious position within the nation’s state media equipment.
Whereas Repollet’s ties to China have change into stronger since he grew to become the president of Kean College, his Fb profile exhibits that he made a number of visits to China earlier than he grew to become the highest administrator at Kean.
For instance, a 2016 Fb submit exhibits Repollet attending Wenzhou-Kean College’s inaugural graduation in China as a member of the college’s board of trustees. He attended the 2017 graduation in China additionally, in response to one other Fb submit.
Previous to Chen Li taking excessive place in China’s New York consulate, that place was held by Huang Ping, who has a lengthy historical past of selling CCP propaganda and calling the CCP a “great party,” denying the alleged Uyghur genocide, and assembly with officers throughout america at universities, media corporations and in elected workplace.
Ping repeatedly met with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams, all Democrats. Earlier this 12 months, Ping was referenced dozens of instances in an indictment involving considered one of Hochul’s former high aides.
Huang Ping meets with Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Avenue. (Consulate Common of the Individuals’s Republic of China in New York)
Huang Ping, the consul common of China’s New York Consulate (YouTube screenshot/Chinese language Consulate Common in New York)
Repollet additionally has ties to Ping relationship again to 2021, in response to a press launch from the New York Chinese language consulate. Ping and Repollet met nearly in December 2021, the place Ping congratulated him on his appointment at Kean College and counseled “the university for setting a good example for China-U.S. educational cooperation by its 10-year successful campus in Wenzhou, China.”
“[Repollet] highly agrees that education cooperation plays a unique role in people-to-people exchange and in enhancing understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American people,” the consulate’s press launch mentioned. “[Repollet] confirms that the university highly values globalization and diversity, and firmly supports cooperation with China.”
Months earlier, Repollet recorded a video on behalf of the New York Chinese language consulate celebrating “the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.” Within the video, he touted his college’s “strong ties” to China and mentioned he was “immensely grateful to our Chinese partners and to the people at Kean USA who continues to work together to help this university and especially our students thrive.”
“I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners in China to further develop this great institution and to celebrate events like National Day In China together [and] well into the future,” Repollet continued.
A 2023 Fb submit additionally exhibits Repollet collaborating in an occasion marking the ultimate day of the Chinese language New 12 months, which featured Ping.
Michael Sobolik, the creator of “Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance,” sounded the alarm about this shut relationship between Repollet and China, telling Fox Information Digital this relationship is a “cautionary tale.”
“The university hosts a Human Rights Institute, but it makes no mention of Beijing’s ongoing genocide of Uyghurs, its cultural genocide in Tibet, its political crackdown in Hong Kong, or its broader oppression of the Chinese people at home and abroad,” Sobolik continued. “This is what happens when American universities partner with the Chinese Communist Party: money and market access incentivize Americans to ignore the party’s atrocities and remain silent.”
China professional Michaele Sobolik mentioned Kean College’s relationship with China is a “cautionary tale.” (Getty Photographs)
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China’s New York consulate, which has beforehand toed the road on the CCP’s narrative whereas responding to a number of Fox Information Digital inquiries, dismissed Sobolik’s evaluation by calling him a “so-called ‘expert’” that “lacks a basic understanding of China.”
“The statements regarding Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong, and human rights are factually incorrect and represent typical disinformation. We firmly opposes such slander and smear,” the consulate continued. “Educational exchange and cooperation between China and the U.S. align with the laws and common interests of both sides, and are transparent and beyond reproach.”
“Kean University is known for promoting educational equity and inclusivity, and its cooperation with China will provide more learning and development opportunities for students of all ethnic backgrounds in the U.S.,” the consulate added. “We urge some people in the U.S. to remove their ‘colored glasses,’ view the cooperation objectively and positively.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to Kean College for remark, however didn’t obtain a response.
