California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a prominent figure in the state's Democratic Party and a leading candidate for the 2026 lieutenant governor race, is facing intense scrutiny following a bombshell investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF). The report alleges that Ma has maintained extensive, decades-long ties with officials linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its intelligence apparatus, including the United Front Work Department (UFWD).
"CCP elite capture is alive and well. Any politician who continues to engage in these types of behavior is not a target, but is complicit in CCP activities. Ignorance is no longer an excuse." — Peter Schweizer, Author of “Red Handed”
According to the DCNF's findings, which draw on translations of Chinese government records and state media reports, Ma has held documented meetings with individuals connected to the CCP and Chinese government intelligence at least 30 times over the past several decades. These engagements, described as "sustained, high-level," reportedly involved Ma actively introducing American lawmakers to Chinese intelligence officials during some encounters. The investigation also claims that on at least 10 separate occasions since 2018, Ma personally issued commendations on behalf of her office to CCP members and individuals associated with Chinese influence operations.
The United Front Work Department (UFWD), an agency frequently appearing throughout Ma's documented engagements, has been characterized by the House Select Committee on the CCP as employing a "blend of engagement, influence activities, and intelligence operations." The Committee describes the UFWD as a tool Beijing utilizes to reshape foreign policy and extract advanced foreign technology from Western nations.
Ma's alleged engagement with UFWD-linked figures reportedly dates back more than two decades. While serving as a legislative aide to the late California Democratic Sen. John Burton in 1999, Ma began organizing trips for U.S. lawmakers into China, according to China Daily, a Chinese state publication. One of her co-leaders on that initial delegation reportedly held a formal advisory post with the Chinese government in Sichuan province, an advisor who later reappeared on multiple subsequent trips Ma organized for California lawmakers after she entered public office in 2002.
A notable event highlighted in the DCNF report is a December 2014 trade delegation to Sichuan province. During this visit, Ma reportedly brought more than 20 members of the California State Legislature into direct contact with Chinese government and UFWD officials, as evidenced by DCNF translations of Chinese government announcements.
The frequency of these contacts did not diminish after Ma's ascent to California's top financial post. Since her January 2019 inauguration as State Treasurer, she has reportedly met with Chinese government and CCP intelligence figures more than 20 times. This includes three separate meetings conducted on Chinese soil in 2023 alone, underscoring the ongoing nature of these alleged engagements.
One of the commendations issued by Ma's office went to the chairman of the Chinese People’s Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) during his February 2023 visit to the United States. The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center has warned that CPAFFC "sought to directly and malignly influence state and local leaders to promote [China’s] global agenda," identifying the group as a UFWD affiliate. The DCNF found no evidence that the CPAFFC specifically targeted Ma.
Beyond direct meetings and commendations, the investigation also points to instances where Chinese government officials allegedly influenced Ma's political stances. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that in August 2005, while Ma was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Chinese government pressure allegedly led her to withdraw support for an art exhibit connected to Falun Gong practitioners. Similarly, The Sacramento Bee reported that in March 2009, during her tenure as a state assemblywoman, Ma allegedly terminated a resolution honoring Tibet following an intensive lobbying campaign by the Chinese government.
In a 2023 interview with CGTN, a Chinese state broadcaster, Ma articulated her goal for greater integration between the two countries, stating, "The more that we can get along, work together, I think would create more peace in the world as well as better economic opportunities for both countries."
However, Peter Schweizer, the New York Times bestselling author of "Red Handed," offered a stark assessment of Ma's pattern of engagement. "CCP elite capture is alive and well," Schweizer told the DCNF. "Any politician who continues to engage in these types of behavior is not a target, but is complicit in CCP activities. Ignorance is no longer an excuse." Former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Cella echoed these concerns, calling for immediate institutional attention. Cella argued that such a pattern should trigger a "flashing red light for our national security and intelligence agencies," emphasizing the need for education among officials about the nature of the CCP threat and the importance of reporting suspicious meetings to the FBI.
Ma did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF regarding the allegations. The revelations raise significant questions about the extent of foreign influence on American public officials and the implications for national security.
