The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has come under scrutiny for its funding of Chinese government organizations. According to tax documents, the foundation paid out or approved for future payment approximately $23 million in grants to over 20 Chinese entities during its 2022 reporting period. The majority of these grants were for projects related to public health research and analysis, including diseases and vaccine delivery.
Some of the Chinese government entities that received funding from the Gates Foundation include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. These government organizations received a total of $11.3 million from the foundation.
One concerning aspect is that several of the entities funded by the Gates Foundation report to China's State Council, which is largely composed of members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This raises questions about the potential influence of the CCP on the research and projects funded by the foundation.
Another issue is that the Gates Foundation also funded Chinese universities that engage in defense research for China and are overseen by China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University received millions from the foundation, raising concerns about the potential military applications of their research.
The foundation also contributed $100,000 to the China Ministry of Science and Technology for “global health” awareness and analysis. However, the ministry is involved with China's “863 Program,” which has been accused of clandestinely acquiring U.S. technology and sensitive economic information.
Furthermore, the Gates Foundation funded China's National Health Commission with $3.2 million. Some American lawmakers have accused the commission of being complicit in China's COVID-19 cover-up and resisting efforts to investigate the origins of the virus.
It is worth noting that Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and co-founder of the Gates Foundation, has historically been friendly toward China. In 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to Gates as an “old friend,” and Gates has praised China's rise as a “huge win for the world.”
In addition to funding Chinese government organizations, the Gates Foundation also paid millions to groups aligned with the Democratic Party in 2022. The New Venture Fund, a nonprofit under Arabella Advisors' dark money network, received over $70 million from the foundation.
Overall, the funding of Chinese government organizations by the Gates Foundation raises concerns about the potential influence of the Chinese Communist Party and the military applications of the research conducted by these entities. It also raises questions about the foundation's political affiliations and its support for Democratic-aligned groups. Further scrutiny and transparency are needed to ensure that the foundation's funding aligns with its stated goals and values.
