The California Republican Party Convention (CAGOP 2024 convention) was held in San Francisco from Friday to Sunday (May 17-19), with over two thousand Republicans in attendance. Lara Trump, the current co-chair of the United States Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of former President Trump, was present at the event, along with many Chinese community political elites and Chinese American candidates.
After the convention, Republican candidate for the 49th District of the California State Assembly and Chinese American lawyer from Southern California, Longzhu Liu, expressed that the convention has made him more confident about the future of America. He brought two large white T-shirts filled with supporters’ signatures and presented them to Lara Trump on stage, showcasing the voice of the Chinese community. He said, “Lara was so moved; she told me, ‘This T-shirt is beautiful.'”
Before attending the conference, Liu announced his plan to display T-shirts with supporters’ signatures at the venue, but he found that there were too many people eager to sign. Even Chinese Americans from other states called, requesting to add their names.
Liu said that the political figures at the event share his beliefs and determination to stand firm. Using the example of Elizabeth Wong, a candidate for the 25th District of the California State Senate who attended the conference, Liu pointed out that Wong’s family has been immigrants to the United States since the 18th century. Wong believes that the values and traditional beliefs of Chinese Americans align perfectly with those of the Republican Party. In this regard, Liu stated, “It’s not about us supporting Trump or the GOP, but rather Chinese Americans supporting our own traditional virtues—hard work and diligence in learning. From this perspective, it is not a coincidence.”
The convention also showed Liu the enthusiasm of the Chinese community for supporting Trump. He mentioned the misinformation spread by some Chinese media outlets, wrongly claiming that Trump doesn’t like Chinese people because he used the term “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.
“This is a big mistake,” Liu said. People often use terms like “Athlete’s foot” or “Spanish flu” without discriminating against Hong Kong people or Spaniards. Just because Trump mentioned the Chinese virus doesn’t mean he dislikes Chinese people.
During the conference, Liu interacted with Chinese American leaders and identified several concerns prevalent in the Chinese community in recent years:
First, stagnant wages amidst soaring prices, leading to a decline in living standards. Liu emphasized that life should be getting better, not worse.
Second, dissatisfaction with open-border policies. Liu clarified that Chinese Americans are not against immigration but rather irresponsible welfare policies that burden taxpayers.
Third, concerns about public safety. Liu criticized the trend where law enforcement is demonized while criminals are portrayed as victims.
Fourth, he raised the issue of parental rights, citing cases where California public schools could remove children from homes if parents disagree with their gender identity perceptions.
Liu urged Chinese American voters to participate actively in the electoral process. He emphasized that voting is not only a right but also a duty, essential for voicing opinions and preserving true democracy and freedom in America.
Other California political figures who attended the GOP convention included current federal Congresswoman Michelle Steel, candidate for the 41st District of the California State Assembly Michelle Martinez, San Francisco Bay Area Assistant City Administrator Jeff Wang, Arcadia City Council Member Peter Amundson from Southern California, and San Gabriel City Council Member Eric Chan.