The CCP thinks it can give orders to American state officials. Now it's sending them letters.

🚨 China's Consulate General in Chicago wrote to Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott on Oct 12, because three days earlier he had attended Taiwan's National Day reception in Chicago.

Elliott didn't hide it. He posted all four pages for the public to read. I read the whole thing. Here's what's in it:

1️⃣ The charge: by showing up at a reception, he "wrongly regarded Taiwan as a country" and "infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The consulate says it "strongly denounce[s] and firmly oppose[s]" it.

2️⃣ The lecture on American law: the CCP tells him that treasurers and officials "at all levels across the U.S." have "obligations and responsibilities to comply with the federal government's foreign policy and its commitments to China."

A one-party state, explaining US federalism to an elected American official. 😏

3️⃣ The demand: "refrain from having any official interaction with the Taiwan authorities in the future."

4️⃣ The not-so-subtle hint: do this "so as to avoid undermining our mutually beneficial sub-national cooperation." In plain English: cut off Taiwan, or the business with China could suffer.

5️⃣ The order: "We demand your office to pass on the above stated representations to Treasurer Elliott as soon as possible."

6️⃣ Then the carrot: Consul General Wang Baodong would be "willing to meet" Elliott and his team to discuss "cooperation between China and the State of Indiana."

Stick first, then carrot. That's the CCP's playbook for working on US states, cities and local officials, far away from Washington's attention.

Elliott's reply: "Beijing can send all the letters it wants. I answer to Hoosiers. The Chinese Communist Party does not dictate how Indiana officials do their jobs."

He also asked a good question: why is a foreign government "paying such close attention to what an Indiana officeholder does?" He noted that Indiana regulates foreign purchases of its farmland, including certain Chinese government-linked purchases.

Remember, this is a letter one official chose to make public. How many other mayors, treasurers and state lawmakers got one like it, and quietly did what they were told?

The CCP watches its own people. Now it's watching yours.

#CCP #Taiwan #Indiana #China

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