New photographs have surfaced showing then-Vice President Joe Biden during a 2013 official trip to China where he met Hunter Biden’s Chinese business partners.
Breitbart reported that this revelation further reinforces accusations of a potential influence-peddling scheme by the Biden family during the Obama administration.
In December 2013, Joe Biden, serving as Vice President under President Barack Obama, traveled to China.
Accompanying him on Air Force Two was his son, Hunter Biden, who was then exploring business opportunities in the region. This trip has come under scrutiny due to newly released photographic evidence.
During this visit, Joe Biden performed the duties expected of a Vice President, engaging diplomatically on behalf of the United States.
However, it was during this same trip that he reportedly introduced his son Hunter to Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, an unusual move blending personal introductions with official state business. The significance of this introduction was not clear at the time, but it has since gained attention due to the contexts of the later business deals secured by Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden utilized the trip to solidify his standing with Bohai Harvest RST (BHR), a private equity firm he helped establish.
BHR would later secure a deal with a subsidiary of the Bank of China, amounting to billions in investment, just days after the visit. These dealings have led to criticisms of potential conflicts of interest, especially considering the Biden family's influence.
The photographs revealing the meetings between Joe Biden, his son Hunter, and the Chinese business figures were released following legal action from America First Legal Foundation.
The foundation sued the National Archives and Records Administration in 2022 to obtain these records, suggesting a delay orchestrated by attorneys for former Presidents Obama and Biden potentially to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential elections.
The photo release includes images that are claimed to document the Biden family's involvement in influence-peddling, which dates back to the Obama administration, according to America First Legal Foundation.
The foundation argues that these documents and photos are crucial to understanding the extent of the Biden family's business engagements during Joe Biden's vice presidency.
Joe Biden has publicly stated that he "never discussed business" with his family members, particularly in contexts involving his position as Vice President.
However, the surfacing evidence, including the photos and additional data from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop, appear to contradict these statements. This contradiction fuels ongoing debates about the integrity of political figures and the transparency required in their dealings.
The interactions captured in these photos depict Joe Biden meeting with several of Hunter's Chinese business partners.
These meetings have been characterized by critics as inappropriate mingling of official duties with personal financial interests, especially given Hunter Biden’s lack of previous diplomatic experience and the significant financial stake involved.
The exposure of these interactions between Joe Biden and his son’s business associates during official diplomatic missions could potentially affect U.S. relations with China, considering the sensitive nature of U.S.-China relations.
The discussions surrounding these revelations are likely to continue playing a significant role in public and political discourse, especially as they touch on issues of governance, international diplomacy, and personal accountability at the highest levels of government.