Staff Reports
The Biden administration’s hesitance to uncover the dark underbelly of the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership is raising eyebrows across the political spectrum. New officials stepping into the Trump administration could capitalize on a long-overdue report that was specifically designed to expose the corrupt dealings of Chairman Xi Jinping and his cadre of elite commandos. Despite Congress’s explicit direction to scrutinize the wealth and shady practices of top CCP officials, the Biden team has conveniently decided to keep this potentially explosive information under wraps.
Back in 2022, Congress mandated the Director of National Intelligence and the State Department to prepare a comprehensive report exposing the financial misconduct of high-ranking Chinese officials. The deadline for this much-anticipated report came and went without a peep from the Biden administration. This is particularly puzzling, considering the potential fallout that could occur if the Chinese populace became aware of the millions—if not billions—of dollars stashed away by their leaders. Analysts have suggested that this information could be a catalyst for a revolution, but apparently, the Biden administration isn’t keen on rocking the boat.
The Trump administration might tighten the screws on semiconductor exports to slow China’s military advance—and Beijing is firing back.
Meanwhile, the State Department is unfreezing $1 billion in defense aid for Taiwan and the Philippines. pic.twitter.com/cxwF0GYqz3
— NTD Television (@TelevisionNTD) February 26, 2025
Rep. Andrew Ogles from Tennessee made an admirable attempt to address this legislative oversight by introducing the Confronting CCP Malign Influence Act. It aimed to require an expedited wealth and corruption report in a mere 90 days—after all, seven decades of history with the CCP’s corruption should suffice as motivation. Ogles’ proposition also sought to ensure that intelligence officials would publicly testify about these findings. However, like so many things in the current political climate, it found itself buried in bureaucratic red tape and ultimately never saw the light of day.
The West has grown somewhat indifferent to the corrupt dealings in China, primarily due to years of aggressive censorship by the CCP. Past attempts to expose the financial discrepancies of CCP officials were swiftly quashed, reminding many of how tightly controlled information can be in a totalitarian regime. The Panama Papers leak of 2016 revealed that many CCP leaders utilized offshore accounts to funnel their wealth outside of China, confirming suspicions about their corrupt practices. Ironically, while they push anti-corruption campaigns top-down, it seems there’s a more significant scandal lurking beneath the glossy façade of Xi’s regime.
The fact that Xi Jinping himself launched an anti-corruption crackdown after ascending to power makes the stakes even higher. It’s ironic to think that while he’s lecturing the masses to “eat bitterness,” his own family quietly enjoys a buffet of riches abroad. Observers speculate that unveiling the financial sins of CCP leadership could decisively threaten their hold on absolute power, and therein lies the real strategic opportunity for America. The intelligence community has both the tools and the mandate to create a thorough exposé that could not only embarrass the CCP but also press Trump’s administration into taking a tough stance against China.
When it comes to wielding influence over a hostile regime, exposing their corrupt underpinnings may just be the most effective weapon in the arsenal. Rather than relying solely on sanctions and tariffs that can be shrugged off, shedding light on the opulent lifestyles of CCP elites could pressurize the leadership in ways they cannot ignore. The world is watching as the drama unfolds, and perhaps more clarity about the CCP’s corrupt dealings will emerge from the shadows under the new Trump administration. The ball is now in their court, and it’s high time to show some ambition in confronting this existential threat.
