Portrait of Jared Kushner
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Jared Kushner on China

Pragmatic dealmaker (strong)

TL;DR

Jared Kushner engaged deeply with China through both official diplomatic channels and complex family business interests.

Key Points

  • He was credited with securing Chinese concessions on intellectual property and financial services during phase-one trade discussions in 2019.

  • His family's real estate company halted talks with Chinese insurer Anbang in 2017 to redevelop 666 Fifth Avenue, following scrutiny over conflicts of interest.

  • In an op-ed published in March 2021, he praised the Biden administration for making China a priority in its foreign policy.

  • His sister used her ties to him to pitch the EB-5 visa investment scheme to wealthy Chinese investors for a New Jersey project.

Summary

Jared Kushner, while serving as a senior White House advisor, was deeply involved in U.S.-China relations, often acting as a key backchannel to the Chinese leadership. Sources indicated that Beijing viewed him as less hawkish than other senior figures, making him a preferred liaison for high-level interactions, including preparations for presidential visits. His portfolio encompassed challenging areas like trade and North Korea, and he played a role in arranging the first meeting between the President and President Xi Jinping. This direct involvement solidified his position as a critical intermediary between the two nations.

However, his dual role fueled significant controversy concerning conflicts of interest, primarily due to his family’s real estate business dealings in China. Specifically, his sister promoted investment schemes tied to the EB-5 visa program to wealthy Chinese investors using his White House status. Furthermore, reports emerged about his company receiving investments from Chinese entities, like the insurer Anbang, which later stalled a major redevelopment deal. This blending of personal financial interests with sensitive diplomatic work drew sharp criticism from ethics watchdogs regarding the potential for compromise.

Key Quotes

The Biden administration is making China a priority in its foreign policy, and rightly so—one of Mr. Trump's greatest legacies will be changing the world's view of China's behavior

We've come to an understanding with China on where we want to head

Frequently Asked Questions

Jared Kushner acted as a primary and trusted channel for high-level communications between the White House and Chinese leadership during his tenure. He was directly involved in sensitive areas such as trade negotiations and preparing for presidential meetings with President Xi Jinping.

Yes, his family's real estate business actively sought investment from wealthy Chinese individuals through the EB-5 visa program, using his name in promotions. This created significant concern across the political spectrum about potential compromises due to his official role.

Yes, Jared Kushner wrote an editorial in March 2021 where he commended the succeeding administration for prioritizing China in its foreign policy. He viewed the prior administration's actions as creating a legacy by changing the world's view of China's behavior.