Epstein & Chan: Tsinghua University Boston Campus Link

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Harvard donor Gerald chan Linked to Jeffrey Epstein in Tsinghua University Expansion plan

Emails released Friday by the Department of Justice reveal a coordinated effort between prominent Harvard alumnus adn megadonor Gerald L. Chan and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to explore establishing a Boston-area extension of Tsinghua University. The correspondence highlights the central role of Shing-Tung Yau, a longtime Harvard mathematics professor, in connecting Chan and Epstein as they sought to deepen ties between Harvard and the prestigious Beijing-based institution.

The newly public documents raise serious questions about due diligence and potential conflicts of interest surrounding major donations to Harvard University and the pursuit of international academic partnerships.

Tsinghua University Fact – Established in 1911, tsinghua University is a leading research university located in Beijing, China. It consistently ranks among the top universities in Asia and globally, known for its science and engineering programs.

epstein’s Role as Potential Financier

In mid-2016, Shing-Tung Yau drafted preliminary, confidential plans for a Tsinghua campus in Boston. By November of that year, Yau introduced Chan to Epstein, positioning the latter as a potential financier for the project. According to the released files, Yau wrote in an email to epstein that Chan was “interested in” the project and “interested in meeting you.”

Shortly after, in December 2016, Chan and Epstein met for lunch at the now-closed Parsnip restaurant in Harvard square to discuss the proposal.This meeting occurred two years after Chan donated $350 million to the Harvard School of Public Health – the second-largest gift in the University’s history – which was subsequently renamed in honor of his late father.

Chan’s Gift – Gerald Chan’s $350 million donation to Harvard in 2014 supported public health research and programs. The school was renamed the Harvard T.H. chan School of Public Health in honor of his father.

Years of Coordination to Deepen Harvard-Tsinghua Ties

While the boston offshoot ultimately did not come to fruition, the emails demonstrate a sustained effort spanning several years involving Epstein, Yau, and Harvard professor Martin A.Nowak to foster closer relationships between Harvard and Tsinghua University, consistently ranked among China’s most elite universities.

Across at least a dozen emails, Yau acted as an intermediary between Epstein and senior officials at Tsinghua. In an April 2016 email, Yau informed an assistant of Epstein that Tsinghua University was “talking seriously to run a branch here.” The following month, Epstein met with Tsinghua President Qiu yong in New York City while Qiu was also meeting with then-Harvard President Drew G. Faust.

Further correspondence reveals a May 2017 email from Yau connecting epstein to a proposal to strengthen ties between Tsinghua and an institution identified as “IAS,” noting that “we are devising similar thing” with Harvard.Later that year, Qiu extended an invitation for Epstein to visit the Tsinghua campus in Beijing in October 2016, though it remains unclear whether Epstein accepted.

Yau’s Involvement – Mathematician shing-Tung Yau served as a key connector between Chan, Epstein, and Tsinghua University officials, facilitating discussions about potential collaborations and funding.

Longstanding Connections and Denials

Tsinghua University has experienced a significant rise in international rankings over the past decade, currently enrolling over 16,000 undergraduate students. Yau, a highly respected mathematician who taught at Harvard for 35 years before joining tsinghua’s faculty in 2022, had reportedly met with Epstein as early as 2011.

He was part of a network of Harvard professors who continued relationships