Tim Walz’s China experience may be an asset. But for whom? 

Behind Gov. Tim Walz’s (D-MN) folksy demeanor is a deep and disturbing history with the Chinese government. But don’t expect this history to make headlines with much of the legacy media. In fact, Walz’s relationship with China quickly received near-universal acclaim as an unqualified asset.

An asset it might be, but for whom?

Walz’s history presents a case study in the Chinese Communist Party’s subnational influence campaigns. The Chinese phrase “big help with a little bad mouth” describes an influence target such as Walz who might talk tough on human rights but who protects the CCP’s reputation and makes critical concessions on economics and defense. Walz’s track record of advancing CCP propaganda while kowtowing on trade and national security deserves scrutiny.

Walz’s relationship with China

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