Foreign Agents? Congress Investigates A Second US Environmental Group Over Chinese Ties

Michael Bastasch

Lawmakers opened an investigation into a second U.S.-based environmental group over its ties to the Chinese government

Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee asked the World Resources Institute to turn over documents

“WRI leadership regularly interacts with senior Chinese government and Communist party officials and provides public support for Chinese environmental programs,” lawmakers wrote

Congressional Republicans have opened an investigation into a second U.S.-based environmental group over its ties to the Chinese government.

Top Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee asked the World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental advocacy group, to turn over documents related to its work with Chinese officials and their advocacy in the U.S.

Lawmakers want to know if WRI’s desire to maintain good relations with the Chinese is affecting the group’s U.S. operations and advocacy — effectively making it a foreign agent of the communist government.

“WRI’s desire to maintain access to Chinese officials may influence its political activities in the United States,” Republican Reps. Rob Bishop of Utah and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas wrote in a letter to WRI President Andrew Steer sent Wednesday............To Read More....