By Philip Lenczycki
LOS ANGELES (CONVERSEER) – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing fresh scrutiny after it emerged that two Chinese intelligence-linked bankers who donated heavily to her campaigns and a nonprofit she advises were appointed to her mayoral transition advisory team.
Dominic Ng, CEO of East West Bank, and Simon Pang, co-founder of Royal Business Bank, served on Bass’ transition team in December 2022. Both men and their affiliated organisations have donated over $1 million to Bass’ mayoral campaign and the Mayor’s Fund For Los Angeles, where Bass is an advisor.
Ties to Chinese Government Arms Raised
The Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) investigation revealed Ng and Pang have held positions in organisations linked to China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), a Communist Party body tasked with political influence operations.
Ng’s bank confirmed his involvement in two Chinese government groups but denied participation in a third. Pang, according to official records, served as Southern California coordinator for the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), which the U.S. State Department has labelled a “foreign mission” due to its influence activities.
Bass’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Royal Business Bank declined to comment, and Pang could not be reached.
Donations and Influence Concerns
Records show Pang and related entities contributed up to $33,000 to Bass’ campaigns and between $5,000 and $24,999 to the Mayor’s Fund. Ng personally donated $1,500 to Bass’ mayoral campaign, while East West Bank Foundation donated between $100,000 and $999,999 to the nonprofit.
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Experts say these links raise concerns about foreign political influence. Canadian investigative journalist Sam Cooper said such appointments often reward major donors linked to United Front groups. “When donors connected to United Front groups have significant wealth and show up constantly around politicians, they’re there for a reason,” Cooper said.
National Security Implications
China analysts argue that United Front-linked influence networks aim to embed Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interests into foreign political systems. Gordon Chang, author of Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America, said: “Los Angeles is now a wide-open city for China’s communists. Angelenos can thank the CCP sympathiser-in-chief, Karen Bass.”
The investigation also comes after revelations that Bass appointed the son of a CCP-linked fundraiser as the city’s liaison for Asian-Americans and director of commission appointments.
While there is no evidence Bass participated in Pang’s China delegations, records show Pang introduced her to Chinese-American donors during her mayoral campaign.
Calls for Transparency
Ethics watchdogs have long criticised the Mayor’s Fund, created under former Mayor Eric Garcetti, for allowing donations outside conventional campaign finance rules. The fund’s spokesperson said East West Bank contributions supported homelessness initiatives but declined to address questions about donor vetting or CCP links.
Cooper warned: “The bottom line is this: donations from United Front-linked actors are part of Xi’s strategy to embed the CCP inside democratic systems… to gain leverage and promote preferred candidates.”
