Semafor, the news site recently co-founded by former BuzzFeed and Recent York Times star Ben Smith, touted a recent partnership with a China think tank suspected of getting ties to Beijing’s ruling Communist Party.
The positioning trumpeted an “ambitious recent initiative” with the China Center for Globalization (CCG) which can “create a recent platform…for global business leaders looking for a way forward” despite economic tensions between the US and China.
Semafor said that the “independent news initiative will offer unparalleled insights into a few of crucial global issues today.”
The collaboration will include two events titled “China and Global Business.” The primary will likely be held in Recent York City in June followed by one other in Beijing in October, in line with Semafor.
A spokesperson for Semafor told The Post on Thursday that the news site will retain “full editorial independence and financial control.”
“We’re proud and excited to be constructing a singular and independent journalistic institution that may allow leaders internationally to interact in open dialogue each in China and abroad, to seek out actionable solutions to deep-seated challenges on a neutral platform,” the rep added.
The Post has sought comment from CCG.
On its website, CCG denies that it’s “an organ of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.”
Ben Smith was editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News and media columnist for the Recent York Times.Getty Images
CCG bills itself as a “nongovernmental think tank” which “relies on corporate donations and research grants for funding” — particularly from “Chinese private sector corporations and multinational corporations.”
Josh Rogin, a Washington Post columnist, noted on his Twitter feed that CCG is “affiliated with China’s United Front foreign influence operations.”
Rogin, who opines about foreign policy and national security issues for the newspaper along with his appearances on CNN as a political analyst, posted links to a research paper by an Australian defense think tank titled “The party speaks for you.”
The paper describes the operational methods of “United Front Work Department,” which is alleged to be a “coalition of entities working toward the party’s goals.”
A method by which “United Front Work Department” (UFWD) promotes the agenda of the Chinese government is thru engaging with foreign think tanks.
The paper alleges that the CCG is headed by Wang Huiyao, who also happens to be an adviser to UFWD.
Semafor is touting a recent initiative involving Chinese business leaders.Getty Images (2); Semafor
In 2018, Wang pulled out of participating in a panel on the Wilson Center, the DC-based quasigovernmental think tank, when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote a letter demanding that Wang’s links to UFWD be disclosed.
Rogin noted on his Twitter feed that Semafor last month participated in an event that was sponsored by Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant.
Semafor invited Alibaba’s vice chairman of international government affairs, Eric Pelletier, to supply a “sponsor perspective,” throughout the event.
The Chinese government in recent times has tightened regulations of domestic tech corporations, including Alibaba and video game giant Tencent.
Alibaba has been accused of helping the Chinese government with surveillance of ethnic Uyghur Muslims as a part of alleged widespread human rights violations. China has denied the claims.
“There may be an actual need for smart & reasoned discussion of the U.S.-China relationship,” Rogin tweeted.
“At the identical time, partnering with United Front groups just isn’t the reply.”
Rogin added: “Foreign influence operations can only work if we enable them.”
