Former Congresswoman speaks on CCP's influence in California

A former California congresswoman has raised concerns about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the U.S., particularly in higher education and critical infrastructure. Michelle Steel, who served from 2021 to 2025, spoke about these issues during an interview with EpochTV. Steel highlighted that UC Berkeley received $220 million from China but allegedly failed to report this funding as required by law. She claimed the university collaborated with Chinese officials and provided tours of sensitive research facilities in return for the money. Later, the university suggested that the funds were not used as initially planned. She also expressed worries over Chinese-made cranes at major U.S. ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach. Reports revealed these cranes contained cellular modems that could potentially be used for espionage, tracking shipping activities. Steel warned this poses a national security threat. In addition to these infrastructure concerns, Steel addressed the fentanyl crisis in California, noting that many fentanyl precursors come from China. She emphasized Congress’s growing awareness of China’s role in the crisis, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how much fentanyl originated from there. Steel condemned human rights abuses in China, especially against minority groups, and described how some people live in fear of persecution. She shared her personal commitment to democracy, which stems from her family's history of fleeing North Korea. Steel's work in Congress earned her recognition, and she was recently mentioned as a potential U.S. ambassador to South Korea. She believes in the opportunities America offers and is thankful for her journey from being an immigrant to a public servant.