Staff Reports
Zhao Xuejun, the once-mighty chairman of Harvest Fund Management and a former business associate of Hunter Biden, has found himself in hot water with the Chinese authorities. His resignation from the investment fund, one of China’s largest asset managers, has raised eyebrows and rekindled interest in Hunter Biden’s colorful history of business dealings—particularly those with formidable connections in an authoritarian regime.
Zhao’s downfall is conveniently couched in bureaucratic language about “personal problems,” which, in China, tends to mean something a bit more sinister than a bad day at the office. Given the backdrop of Beijing’s ongoing clampdown on the securities sector, some might say this investigation hits a little too close for comfort for Hunter Biden, whose prior associations are starting to resemble a game of musical chairs—except the music stopped, and everyone’s left scrambling as the chairs collapse.
Hunter Biden’s former partner placed under investigation by Chinese government, resigned from fundhttps://t.co/XrJicwxgnl
— Shadygrooove (@shadygrooove) August 22, 2024
This isn’t Zhao’s first dance with controversy. Back in 2018, another one of Biden’s business partners, Ye Jianming, who reigned over CEFC China Energy, vanished without a trace, not unlike socks in a dryer—poof, gone! His disappearance signaled trouble, with rumors swirling that he might have been under investigation for corruption and financial crimes. Just like a bad penny, Hunter’s relationship with powerful Chinese businessmen seems to keep turning up, bringing along its fair share of drama.
In a tangled web of investment dealings, Zhao—known as “Henry” among his Biden associates—was instrumental in securing Chinese capital for various Biden ventures dating back to 2013. Notably, he was involved in an ambitious plan to launch a private equity firm named Burnham, which was supposed to marry the Biden name with a globally recognized Wall Street brand. The vision was enticing, but like many a well-pitched scheme, it never quite materialized due to legal troubles that ensnared multiple partners in fraud.
If one digs deeper, it’s clear that Zhao’s interest in collaborating with Hunter was decidedly less about financial gain and more about gaining access to power—specifically, Joe Biden’s political clout. Emails leaked from the investigation reveal a determined effort to leverage the Biden name as a selling point, which begs the question: How much of Hunter’s involvement was a foot-in-the-door scenario for deeper Chinese connections?
It’s little wonder political observers are raising eyebrows; the implications of these ties are significant. If Zhao’s withdrawal from Harvest Fund Management serves as a warning of the potential fallout from these connections, it may just be a prelude to a larger narrative unraveling around the Biden family business expeditions in China. As power plays in the global arena continue to unfold, one thing is certain: this isn’t just business as usual; it’s a masterclass in how not to secure your future when mixing politics and profit, especially when the other party is a government known for silence—or worse.
