,
7 tweets,
4 min read
Read on Twitter
Exclusive: Reporting by The New York Times shows how the family of Elaine Chao, transportation secretary and wife of Senator Mitch McConnell, prospered as the family’s shipping company developed deep ties to China’s political and economic elite. nyti.ms/2HQfEez
While Elaine Chao has no formal affiliation or stake in her family’s shipping business, Foremost Group, she and Senator Mitch McConnell have received millions of dollars in gifts from her father, who ran the company until last year. nyti.ms/2HQoIA0 
In October 2017, an official at the American Embassy in Beijing wrote to the State Department about an “ethics question” involving Chao’s first scheduled visit to China as a Trump cabinet member and requests to include family members in official meetings. nyti.ms/2HQoIA0
Over the years, Elaine Chao has repeatedly used her connections and celebrity status in China to boost the profile of the company, which benefits from the expansive industrial policies in Beijing that are at the heart of diplomatic tensions with the U.S. nyti.ms/2HQoIA0
Now, Elaine Chao is the top Trump official overseeing the American shipping industry, which is in steep decline as China’s shipping sector rises in global dominance. nyti.ms/2HTa8b1
We hope you have time to read the full report on Elaine Chao and her family’s shipping company by @PekingMike @EricLiptonNYT @KeithBradsher @suilee. Here are 5 takeaways from our reporting: nyti.ms/2MsnfEq
You can also read our reporting in Chinese: 起底赵小兰和她的家族航运生意 nyti.ms/2IdadoU
