By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Washington, D.C. – A U.S. congressman has formally alerted the State Department to potential security risks stemming from Chinese involvement in a major infrastructure project in Liberia.
In a letter dated December 9, 2025, Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee, warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Ivanhoe Atlantic, a company involved in a $1.8 billion deal to revive a railway connecting Guinea with a Liberian port for iron ore transport.
According to Moolenaar, Ivanhoe Atlantic has close ties to Chinese state-owned enterprises and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) United Front, a network designed to exert political influence internationally.
Moolenaar noted that China CITIC Bank Corporation and Zijin Mining Group together hold roughly 40% ownership in Ivanhoe Mines, a sister company within the Ivanhoe portfolio.
CITIC is wholly owned by China’s Ministry of Finance, and previous U.S. assessments have identified it as posing “an unacceptable risk to national security.”
The letter also highlighted that Ivanhoe’s board includes members linked to the CCP’s United Front system.
Patrick Tsang, an Ivanhoe director, serves on the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Election Committee, roles connected to Beijing’s political control in the region.
Another board member, Kenneth Lau, is linked to Chow Tai Fook Co. Ltd., previously investigated for antitrust violations in China and connected to organized crime networks.
Moolenaar criticized prior State Department support for Ivanhoe Atlantic, pointing out that Senate intervention blocked funding in 2024 after embassy staff in Monrovia allegedly misrepresented the project’s necessity.
While expressing support for U.S. commercial engagement in Africa and reducing dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains, Moolenaar urged the State Department to ensure that American diplomacy and investment are not entangled with entities linked to the CCP.
The State Department has not yet responded publicly to the letter.
