A previously unreported 2013 Facebook post from China’s San Francisco consulate has revealed Representative Eric Swalwell meeting with a senior CCP diplomat. In the photo, a then-freshman Swalwell is seen posing with Song Ru'an, who was then the Deputy Consul General. The post quotes Swalwell touting "great potential" for U.S.-China trade and economic cooperation.
The timing of the meeting is particularly notable as it occurred while Swalwell was allegedly being targeted by a Chinese espionage operation. Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a suspected operative for China’s Ministry of State Security, notably "liked" the consulate's post. Fang reportedly worked closely with Swalwell’s campaign at the time, helping with fundraising and placing an intern in his office.
Song Ru'an, the diplomat in the photo, later rose to a high-ranking position in Hong Kong’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure there, he emerged as a vocal critic of U.S. efforts to protect human rights and democracy in the region. He famously slammed U.S. legislation as the "epitome of hegemony" and defended China’s authoritarian crackdown on dissidents.
The unearthed photo follows recent reports of a California-based law partner for a Beijing firm donating thousands to Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign. Critics argue that Swalwell's past ties to CCP officials raise serious national security alarms. The congressman has promised that if elected governor, he would make former ICE agents "un-hirable" in California.
Swalwell has faced years of scrutiny over his relationship with Fang, which the FBI first flagged in 2015. While he was never accused of wrongdoing, the connection led to his eventual removal from the House Intelligence Committee. Republican leaders continue to demand a more thorough investigation into his past interactions with Chinese operatives.
Swalwell's team has declined to provide any comment regarding the newly surfaced consulate photo. The San Francisco Chinese Consulate also did not respond to requests for comment on the 2013 meeting. The revelation adds a new layer to the ongoing debate over foreign influence in California’s high-stakes political landscape.