Duval Times

The ongoing scrutiny of Western auditing and consulting firms by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has drawn attention to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global consulting firm. PwC's relationship with China has come under fire, particularly for its operations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and its support for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has addressed these concerns in a letter to PwC Global Chairman Mohamed Khande. Rubio expressed apprehension over PwC's ties to the CCP, questioning the potential conflicts of interest that could affect U.S. interests.

"Simultaneous engagements with foreign adversaries are unacceptable," Rubio stated. "PwC’s apparent deep connections with CCP-controlled entities raise questions about conflicts of interest that could preclude PwC from executing any contract for U.S. federal and state government agencies with fidelity."

Rubio highlighted several issues, including PwC's consultation work in regions where human rights abuses have been reported, such as Xinjiang, and the appointment of Daniel Li as Chairman of its China and East Asia practice. Li is said to be a member of the CCP, which raises further concerns about PwC's alignment with Chinese governmental goals.

The letter also points out that despite losing contracts due to regulatory actions following flawed audits like those involving Evergrande, PwC continues efforts to align itself with CCP objectives through initiatives like "Belt and Road United." This project supports China's Belt and Road Initiative by assisting government departments in constructing financial markets favorable to it.

Rubio called for detailed responses from PwC regarding their current contracts with U.S. agencies, past clients connected to military or strategic sectors in China, and any modifications made in consulting recommendations that might favor China's Belt and Road Initiative.

He emphasized the broader implications of these engagements: "Global firms, such as PwC, who have grown prosperous from a free and democratic order governed by American values, can no longer seek to cater to, and profit from, both sides of this conflict."

The senator requested answers by November 15, 2024.