California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra returns massive donation after Daily Mail investigation exposes how donor's dad has deep CCP ties

California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra is rejecting and returning a $20,000 donation from the son of a wealthy Chinese developer who is a trustee of a university with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the

Daily Mail has learned.

The decision to refund the money that was given to his gubernatorial campaign last month comes after a Daily Mail investigation exposed the political contribution from Alex Xu, who appears to reside in California and Canada and is the CEO of Lotusland Investment Holdings.

Alex and his father, Yiming Xu, are developing the massive 23,000-acre Guenoc Valley Project on the border of Napa and Lake counties, a multi-million dollar venture that Becerra previously blocked while serving as California's attorney general.

In early 2021, during his tenure as California Attorney General, Becerra intervened in environmental litigation against the Guenoc Valley development, citing concerns over wildfire risks in high-hazard areas. 

That intervention reportedly contributed to legal delays that stalled the project's timeline several years.

A spokesperson for the Becerra campaign noted Wednesday evening that they did 'not have a record of Alex attending any of our fundraising events' and that they 'refunded the contribution as of yesterday evening.' 

Lotusland's website says of the Guenoc Valley Project: 'With approvals in place, Lotusland will begin site preparation and infrastructure work in early 2026, followed by phased construction of hospitality and residential components.

'Throughout the process, the company remains committed to sustainable design, continued community partnership, and a deep respect for the land that makes the Guenoc Valley Project possible.'

California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra has returned a $20,000 campaign donation from the son of a wealthy Chinese developer with ties to a CCP-backed university, the Daily Mail can reveal

Alex Xu (left), CEO of Lotusland Investment Holdings, donated $20,000 to Becerra's gubernatorial campaign last month (Source: Courtesy of Rob Brown). His Chinese real estate mogul father, Yiming Xu, is a founding donor and trustee of Westlake University, a privately funded research institution with ties to the Chinese Communist Party 

Yiming, who is described in business filings published on the Chinese stock market hub Sina Finance as 'a permanent citizen of Hong Kong,' is the founder and chairman of Lotusland Investment Limited, the holding company for his son's firm. 

He is also a key financial force behind the father-son's California venture – which could trigger backlash as lawmakers and communities have voiced rising concerns over foreign entities and Chinese nationals acquiring thousands of acres of land in the United States.

A Daily Mail review of past business records reveals that Yiming has had a financial stake in dozens of Chinese companies going back decades, including a 'broad business portfolio, covering real estate development, department stores, culture and education, property services, tourism, and other fields.'

'[Yiming Xu] has been investing in real estate in China under the brand 'ProChina,' with main businesses including ProChina Real Estate, ProChina Education, ProChina Property Management, ProChina Commerce, and ProChina Tourism, holding controlling or minority stakes in dozens of companies,' an English translation of a 2022 document revealed.

Yiming, who has lived and done business in Canada, most notably serves as a founding donor, honorary trustee and member of the Board of Trustees for Westlake University, the first privately funded, CCP-backed research university, located in Hangzhou.

Founded alongside prominent Chinese scientists, including biophysicist Shi Yigong, who previously turned down a $10 million grant in the United States before moving back to China, and backed by high-ranking CCP officials, Westlake University operates in close alignment with China's national strategy of leveraging technological and academic self-reliance. 

Yiming, who sits on the board alongside figures linked to China's National People's Congress and government-aligned industrial bodies, highlights the coordination between elite private wealth, state-backed scientific development and the CCP's broader structural objectives.

A Daily Mail review of Westlake's leadership reveals that multiple trustees are members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a crucial part of the CCP's United Front Work Department that advances Beijing's interests in the United States and abroad – including Shi Yigong, the university's founding president, who Yiming said he has been 'friends' with since 2017 when they met at a restaurant and Yigong convinced him to donate to the university after explaining its mission.

The massive Guenoc Valley development, spanning 23,000 acres near California's Napa and Lake counties, faced legal delays after environmental concerns were raised over wildfire risks 

Westlake University founding president Shi Yigong has served two terms on China's top political advisory body (Source: Westlake University)

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During an acceptance speech while receiving the CPPCC's Outstanding Performance Award in 2024, Yigong said he served two terms as a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC.

'I have deeply felt the great importance attached to the CPPCC by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and witnessed the CPPCC's efforts in fulfilling its responsibilities by focusing on the central tasks of the Party and the country,' he said at the time. 

'Moving forward, I will certainly bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions, always uphold my duties to the country and the people, remain true to my original aspiration, forge ahead with determination and deepen the reform practices of Westlake University, serving the country and actively fulfilling my responsibilities, striving to make new and positive contributions on this new journey!' Yigong continued.

Just last month, the university's CCP chair oversaw a lecture series program focused on 'implement[ing] General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on doing a good job in the [CCP]Party's united front work in the new era.'

Another university press release from July shows how the university's leadership 'celebrated the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China' and revealed that the university's 'original mission' was 'cultivating talent for the [CCP].'

In 2024, another press release from Westlake touted a swearing-in ceremony at the university for new CCP members, saying they 'will deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, be of one heart and one mind with the Party, move in the same direction as the times, keep the 'greater good of the country' in mind, shoulder the responsibilities of the times, always remember that their primary identity is that of a Communist Party member.'

A spokesperson for the Becerra campaign noted that they did 'not have a record of Alex [Xu] attending any of our fundraising events

'Yiming Xu has a long history of working with the Chinese Communist Party on its talent programs, designed to recruit overseas experts and use their knowledge to advance China at the expense of the United States and the West,' Deal told the Daily Mail.

'Does the Becerra campaign know with whom it is dealing?' Deal asked. 'There is no good answer to that question.'

Li, who has been funded by Yiming for several years, including 'paying his salary, allowances and research expenses,' according to the university's website, received multiple prestigious degrees in the United States, including at Harvard, before moving back to China to join Westlake.

Yiming's name also became part of Li's official title: 'Xu Yiming Chair Professor.'

'When I learned that Professor Deng Li had given up the lucrative conditions of a top private university in the United States to come to Westlake University to contribute to the country's chemical research and cultivate talents, I was deeply moved and wanted to pay tribute to him with a zither,' Yiming said in a letter to a renowned violin maker Zheng Quan about Li's decision to join Westlake, according to the university's website.

The Daily Mail sent multiple inquiries to Lotusland Investment, Westlake University and Alex Xu about the $20,000 donation and the university's ties to the CCP.