Chinese educator Wang Zaozao’s CCP ties and frequent appearances with top New York Democrats raise fresh concerns.

Wang Zaozao’s Political Network and Public Appearances

Wang Zaozao, a Chinese-born educator, pageant winner, and interpreter, has established a prominent public presence in New York City over the past several years. Known as “Linda” to many, Wang has consistently appeared alongside high-profile Democratic figures such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at parades, fundraisers, and community events. Through her Zao Learning Center, founded in 2018, she has trained hundreds of children in bilingual modeling and acting, with branches in both New York and Taiwan.

Wang’s website highlights her academic achievements, including an “Advanced Interpretation Qualification Certificate” and a teaching certificate from China’s Ministry of Education (MOE). The MOE, a key organ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is directly involved in curriculum development and international exchanges, reinforcing socialist values in education at home and abroad. Wang’s decade of work as a bilingual emcee and TV host at major cultural events has repeatedly brought her into contact with leading local politicians and CCP diplomats.

Her social media profiles feature over 2,000 images, including photos with Adams, Schumer, and Chinese diplomats such as Consul General Chen Li and Huang Ping. In several posts, Wang expresses gratitude for reconnecting with familiar political figures and shares images from events like the AAPI Heritage Month parade, Lunar New Year celebrations, and cultural festivals where she served as host or translator.

Connections to CCP-Linked Organizations and Community Groups

Wang’s professional ties extend beyond education and hosting. She serves as a consultant to the Association for the Promotion of China's Peaceful Reunification in New York, a group linked to the CCP’s United Front system—a network described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “magic weapon” for advancing Chinese interests globally. Wang is also a reporter for “Fujian Daily” Southeast Network, a Beijing-backed media outlet that previously employed a former adviser to Mayor Adams.

Analysts, including Arran Hope from the Jamestown Foundation, point to Wang’s deep involvement with organizations in New York connected to the CCP’s united front efforts. Wang holds leadership roles in groups such as the United Chinese Association of America’s New York branch and acts as an adviser to the New York Association for Peaceful Reunification. Her work has been featured in Chinese state media, including the People’s Daily, and she has coordinated support for pandemic efforts in China at the CCP’s request.

Despite numerous public appearances with Adams and Schumer, spokespeople for these officials have emphasized that they do not work with Wang, describing her presence as typical of community events where thousands of residents take photos with elected leaders. Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Dan Goldman also distanced themselves, stating they have no relationship with Wang.

Wang’s documented association with figures such as former Consul General Huang Ping, and her consulting work for CCP-linked organizations, underscore concerns among security analysts and lawmakers about foreign influence campaigns in U.S. political and community life. These issues have been further complicated by recent investigations into political fundraising and the employment of individuals with CCP connections by local officials.

As scrutiny increases, Wang continues to publicly celebrate her engagement with both New York’s Chinese American community and influential Democratic politicians. The ongoing debate highlights the broader challenge of monitoring and addressing the presence of foreign-linked organizations and actors in American civic spaces, especially in a city as globally connected as New York.