Chinese national Fang Fang, who adopted the Americanized first name “Christine”, was a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who embedded herself in U.S. political circles between 2011 and 2015.
One of the politicians she cultivated was California Congressman Eric Swalwell, now a candidate for governor of California.
Fang arrived in the United States in 2011, enrolling at California State University, East Bay.
Despite appearing around 10 years older than most students, she quickly rose to prominence, becoming president of both the Chinese Student Association and the campus chapter of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs.
Fang’s activities extended well beyond campus. She spent substantial time attending Democratic Party networking events throughout the Bay Area and elsewhere, placing herself in close proximity to rising political figures.
In October 2012, she was photographed at a political event alongside Eric Swalwell, who at the time was a Dublin City Council member campaigning for Congress.
During that campaign, Fang reportedly brought Swalwell donors, helped raise funds, and recommended at least one intern who ultimately worked in Swalwell’s congressional office.
After his election, Swalwell was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in January 2015, later serving as the lead Democrat on the CIA oversight subcommittee.
Fang’s political reach was not limited to Swalwell. She was photographed with a Chinese consular official and Russell Lowe, the longtime office director for Senator Dianne Feinstein, who was later revealed to have been a Chinese intelligence agent himself.
Hellbound and Down 