Nikki Haley, a rising star in the 2024 presidential election race, has leveled a bold accusation against her fellow Republican candidate, Ron DeSantis. According to an Inquisitr report dated Friday, November 3, 2023, Haley claims that Governor DeSantis is involved in recruiting Chinese companies to Florida. The allegation adds fuel to the already heated competition for the presidential candidacy and revolves around claims of concealing evidence related to Chinese investments in Florida’s economic development initiatives.
The controversy began when The Washington Examiner reported Governor DeSantis’ connection to Chinese investments in “Select Florida,” formerly known as “Enterprise Florida,” a public-private economic development partnership. Nikki Haley’s campaign unearthed that Select Florida’s website had removed a 146-page report from 2020, which mentioned China 75 times and even included references to an international satellite office in Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for the former Florida Governor’s campaign responded with strong words, stating, “Ron DeSantis has been deeply involved in recruiting Chinese companies to Florida for years,” and accused him of going to great lengths to hide evidence to bolster his presidential campaign. These allegations cast doubts on the integrity of DeSantis’ actions.
As of now, neither Ron DeSantis nor his representatives have directly addressed these accusations. However, an unnamed source shed light on the removal of information from Select Florida’s website, explaining that it was part of an effort to update the website, which contained outdated information for an organization that DeSantis had essentially dissolved. DeSantis’ office clarified that Select Florida’s predecessor had severed all ties with Chinese-related businesses due to concerns about China’s military presence in Hong Kong’s stock exchange.
They emphasized that Governor DeSantis and his administration have been actively addressing various issues related to China, including education, economics, contracts, intellectual property, and security, since he took office in 2019. This ongoing effort aims to uncover any covert Chinese interests within the state.
It’s important to note that this isn’t the first public clash between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis regarding Chinese involvement. DeSantis’ campaign previously criticized Haley for her connections to China during her tenure as South Carolina’s governor, labeling her judgment as “dangerous.
The rivalry between these two Republican candidates is intensifying as the 2024 presidential election approaches, with each trying to secure their place in the race.
