United States Heartland China Association (USHCA) is an organization that builds relationships between government officials, business leaders, and educational institutions in the United States and China. ^{1 2} Chinese state media outlet China Daily has reported that USHCA has been attacked as “pro-China.” ³

Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden (D) is the chairman and chief executive officer of USHCA. ⁴ Holden has previously said that he is “sad to see that China has become a liability in many circles ³ and echoed Chinese Communist Party propaganda ⁵ that U.S.-China relations need to be a “win-win” proposition. ^{6 7 8}

History and Leadership

United States Heartland China Association was originally founded in 2003 as the Midwest China Association by former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL), Gov. Bob Holden (D-MO), and John Rodgers. At the time of its founding, USHCA’s coverage area included 12 Midwestern states. ¹

In 2018, Midwest China Association changed its name to USHCA and expanded to include 20 states between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. ¹

Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden (D) is the Chairman and chief executive officer of USHCA. ⁴ Holden has previously said that he is “sad to see that China has become a liability in many circles.” ¹

USHCA’s senior advisors include former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D), former Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry (D), former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R), former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Kenneth Quinn, and former North Dakota Governor and George W. Bush administration Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer. ⁹

USHCA’s strategic advisors have previously included Biden administration Senior White House Adviser in charge of infrastructure Mitch Landrieu and Biden administration Export-Import Bank of the U.S. director Reta Jo Lewis. ¹⁰

Activities and Funding

United States Heartland China Association is an organization that seeks to build relationships between government officials and business leaders and enhance educational and community ties between the United States and China. ^{1 2} Chinese state media outlet China Daily has reported that USHCA has been attacked as “pro-China.” ³

USHCA’s “heartland region” covers 20 states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. ¹¹

In 2022, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) alleged that USHCA plays a “vital role” in supporting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence efforts in the United States. ¹² In October 2022, USHCA president Bob Holden asserted that U.S.-China relations need to be a “win-win” situation on agricultural cooperation. ^{6 7}

In April 2022, USHCA hosted the U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa. ¹³ U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, and Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang all participated in this event. At the event’s conclusion, USHCA and the China Agriculture Association for International Exchange (CAAIE) signed an agreement for deeper cooperation. ¹⁴ USHCA has hosted other events that included minister-level officials from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. ¹⁵

In November 2021, USHCA co-hosted an event with United Chinese Americans called “Return of McCarthyism” to criticize the U.S. Department of Justice’s “China Initiative” program, which focused its efforts on combatting intellectual property theft and economic espionage from China. ^{16 17} USHCA has also co-hosted events ¹⁸ advocating for Chinese students in American universities with the U.S.-China Education Trust and left-of-center The Carter Center. ¹⁹

USHCA’s partners include the United States Conference of Mayors, China-United States Exchange Foundation, State International Development Organization, China General Chamber of Commerce-USA, National Governors Association, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, National Black Farmers Association and others. ²⁰

Controversy

It was previously reported that several events and trips conducted by the United States Heartland China Association (USHCA) were also planned with other groups connected to the Communist Party of China’s (CCPs) United Front Work Department (UFWD). The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported that the UFDW acts as a “Chinese intelligence service” to coordinate “influence operations” within the United States. ²¹  According to the Daily Caller, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher (R), chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, previously claimed that UFWD has been used by the CCP to “manipulate the American people and interfere in all levels of our government, including state and local governments.” ²¹

According to the Daily Caller, several members of the USHCA’s leadership have either previously or are affiliated with organizations connected to the UFWD. USHCA board member Liu Yawei and USHCA strategic advisor “Sam” Zhao Suisheng are both listed as “experts” with the Center For China And Globalization’s (CCGs) “academic advisory board.” ²¹  The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has previously called the CCG a “United Front-affiliated Beijing think tank.” ²¹  USHCA strategic advisor Alan Wong is listed as a “special advisor” to the Hong Kong-based China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF). Not only is CUSEF registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, but CIA director William Burns previously claimed in 2021 that the CUSEF works to, “influence political, economic and cultural developments to benefit CCP interests.” ²¹

The USHCA lists the Chinese People’s Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) as a “partner,” even through the National Counterintelligence and Security Center has claimed the CPAFFC works on behalf of the CCP develop, “‘sister’ relationships between China and localities in the United States.” ²¹  The Daily Caller reported that the USHCA sent delegations of U.S city mayors to China in 2019 and 2023, of which several UFWD-affiliated groups were involved in the planning including the CPAFFC. In addition, several nonprofit foundations were involved in the planning of the delegation including the Ford Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. ²¹

Funding

United States Heartland China Association (USHCA) receives funding from membership fees and grants. ²² In 2020, USHCA reported revenue of $376,846 and expenses of $176,713. ²³

In 2022, USHCA $300,000 of grants from the Henry Luce Foundation to support building U.S.-China relations by connecting government and business leaders and connecting college students. ^{24 25 26} That same year, USHCA received a $275,000 grant from the left-of-center Ford Foundation. ²⁷

In 2021, USHCA also received grants of $150,000 from the Ford Foundation ²⁸ and $125,000 from the Luce Foundation. ²⁹

1. About USHCA.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/about-ushca/.
2. “Ford Foundation and Henry Luce Foundation lend support to USHCA.” United States Heartland China Association. July 1, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Ford-Foundation-and-Henry-Luce-Foundation-Lend-Support-to-USHCA-v2.pdf.
3. Zhou, May. “Study: China matters to American heartland.” China Daily. January 26, 2022. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/26/WS61f0b2c2a310cdd39bc8357b.html.
4. “Our Team.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/about-ushca/our-team/.
5. Braham, Laurence. “Foreign policy truly win-win in nature.” China Daily. September 17, 2019. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201909/17/WS5d802390a310cf3e3556bc84.html.
6. “Former Missouri Governor Speaks Out on US China Relationship: “We Need a Win Win”.” Cyrus Janssen YouTube Channel. Posted October 1, 2022. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMj6m_SZgHc&t=11s.
7. “Tweet.” United States Heartland China Association Twitter. Posted October 5, 2022. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/ushcaorg/status/1577785568552894464.
8. Fisher, John. “China’s ‘Win-Win’ Resolution is Anything But.” Human Rights Watch. March 5, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/03/05/chinas-win-win-resolution-anything.
9. “Strategic Advisors.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/about-ushca/strategic-advisors/.
10.  “Strategic Advisors.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed via Web Archive November 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211116232208/https://usheartlandchina.org/about-ushca/strategic-advisors/.
11. “About USHCA.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/about-ushca/.
12. Dunleavy, Jerry. “Pro-China group linked to Biden White House identified as a part of Beijing influence ops.” Washington Examiner. July 12, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pro-china-group-linked-to-biden-white-house-identified-as-part-of-beijing-influence-ops/ar-AAZv6WJ?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=08c0b493f6a344eda670ff31289137e9.
13. “U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Dialogue.” United States Heartland China Association. April 21, 2022. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZMYQjubQGA.
14. “U.S.-China Diplomacy Takes Center Stage at Agricultural Dialogue in Des Moines.” KSLA News 12. April 25, 2022. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://www.ksla.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/us-china-diplomacy-takes-center-stage-agricultural-dialogue-des-moines/?outputType=amp.
15. “Minister Xu Xueyuan holds a video conference with Chairman Bob Holden and Strategic Advisor Ambassador Kenneth Quinn of the United States Heartland China Association.” Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States. September 15, 2021. Accessed November 12, 2022. http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sgxx/principles/xuxueyuan_eng/xuxueyuanactivities_eng/202109/t20210915_9961442.htm.
16. “#UCATalks Nov. 3, 2021 Event: Return of McCarthyism?.” United Chinese Americans. October 26, 2021. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://ucausa.org/ucatalks-nov-3-2021-event-return-of-mccarthyism/.
17. “Information About the Department of Justice’s China Initiative and a Compilation of China-Related Prosecutions Since 2018.” U.S. Department of Justice Archives. November 19, 2021. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.justice.gov/archives/nsd/information-about-department-justice-s-china-initiative-and-compilation-china-related.
18.  “Webinar [9/22] – Chinese Students in America: Still Caught in the Crosshairs?” US-China Education Trust. September 14, 2022. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://uscet.org/webinar-9-22-chinese-students-in-america-still-caught-in-the-crosshairs/.
19. Fischer, Karen. “Latitudes.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. September 21, 2022. Accessed via web Archive November 13, 2022. https://archive.ph/hbLMA.
20. “Home.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/.
21. Lenczycki, Philip. “EXCLUSIVE: Communist Influence Network Is Deeply Involved With Nonprofit Connecting China To US Heartland.” Daily Caller, February 21, 2024. https://dailycaller.com/2024/02/21/china-us-heartland-communist-influence/?pnespid=u_R2BTtKaKYL0OLepz6_AZiAohGpX4tnJLK9nLNn9B5mN2brNnnOtpXZOpECRpdytqE68Z6n
22. ^[1] “Ways to support USHCA.” United States Heartland China Association. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://usheartlandchina.org/support-ushca/.
23. “United States Heartland China Association.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/201361557/download990pdf_07_2022_prefixes_01-22%2F201361557_202106_990_2022071120207018.
24. “Building Bridges in the Heartland Community: Far East Deep South viewing & speaking tour.” Henry Luce Foundation. June 4, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.hluce.org/grants/grants/building-bridges-in-the-heartland-community-far-east-deep-south-viewing-speaking-tour/.
25. “For a general support grant for the Heartland China Program.” Henry Luce Foundation. June 2, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.hluce.org/grants/grants/heartland-china-program-2022-2024/.
26. “$12M to Fund Community-Engaged Collaborations, Leadership Development, and Educational Resources.” Henry Luce Foundation. July 9, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.hluce.org/news/articles/12m-fund-community-engaged-collaborations-leadership-development-and-educational-resources/.
27. “General support to foster a positive, productive, and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and China by creating more channels of collaboration and opportunities for economic growth in the American Heartland Region.” Ford Foundation. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/awarded-grant/general-support-to-foster-a-positive-productive-and-mutually-beneficial-relationship-between-the-uni/141558.
28. “General support to foster and support a positive, productive, and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and China by creating more channels of collaboration and opportunities for economic growth in the American Heartland Region.” Ford Foundation. February 2021. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/awarded-grant/general-support-to-foster-and-support-a-positive-productive-and-mutually-beneficial-relationship-bet/139855.
29. “For a general support grant.” Henry Luce Foundation. June 10, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2022. https://www.hluce.org/grants/grants/heartland-china-program/.