A new secret romance has been discovered that Minnesota Governor and vice presidential hopeful Tim Walz had with the daughter of a high-ranking Chinese Communist official during his teaching tenure in China in 1989.
Jenna Wang, now 59, shared her story of a passionate and clandestine relationship with Walz, a bond that unfolded in a politically charged environment fraught with tension and secrecy.
Wang claims that their relationship began during Walz’s time as a teacher in Foshan, Guangdong Province, where he was employed by the nonprofit organization WorldTeach.
Their romance, however, was not without its challenges. Given her father’s significant position within the Communist Party, the couple could not openly display their affection.
Holding hands or sharing a kiss in public was strictly off-limits, as Wang’s father would have disowned her for associating with a westerner.
Despite the constraints of their surroundings, Wang and Walz cultivated a deep connection in private. “Tim was very passionate and romantic,” she recounted in an exclusive interview. “I can still remember dancing with him to our favorite song, ‘Careless Whisper.’”
Their love flourished amid the intimate setting of Wang’s small staff accommodation, where they spent hours sipping tea, listening to music, and dreaming about a future together.
Initially, the allure of their romance masked the harsh realities that would eventually surface.
Wang expressed a yearning for a committed relationship, even fantasizing about marriage and a shared life in the United States. “We were deeply in love, and I wanted to marry him and start a family,” she reflected.
However, as the relationship progressed, Wang began to feel disappointed by what she perceived as Walz’s selfishness, especially when a marriage proposal failed to materialize.
Tim Walz’s time in China has become a topic of scrutiny, particularly after he made misleading claims regarding his whereabouts during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
He has stated in interviews that he was in Hong Kong during the protests, but evidence has emerged indicating he only joined WorldTeach in China after the protests had concluded.
Walz later referred to himself as a “knucklehead” during a recent vice-presidential debate, admitting to confusion over dates and timelines related to this significant historical event.
It was several months after his arrival in Foshan that Walz reportedly fell for Wang, who was a highly educated English teacher at a nearby middle school.
During a class session, he reportedly leaned in close to her and complimented her beauty, which sparked an immediate connection.
“He was very handsome. I loved his eyes and his big mouth,” Wang recalled fondly. Their interactions quickly evolved into a secret romance, with Wang frequently visiting Walz at his modest accommodations.
As their relationship deepened, the couple found creative ways to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
They strolled through local parks and attended dances in the evenings when the chances of being seen by others were reduced.
Walz often traveled to Hong Kong and Macau on weekends, returning with Western luxuries that were largely unavailable to locals, further enhancing the allure of their relationship.
While the couple enjoyed their time together, the oppressive social environment in China at the time loomed large.
Wang noted that it was a repressive society where public displays of affection were frowned upon.
“Couples walked around the city like robots,” she said, highlighting the societal constraints that shaped their experience.
As summer approached, Walz returned to the U.S. but kept in touch with Wang through letters that described his life and teaching experiences in Alliance, Nebraska.
He encouraged her to send a passport photo, leading Wang to believe that their relationship was headed toward a serious commitment.
When Walz returned to China in 1992, she resigned from her teaching position, fully expecting to embark on a new chapter together.
However, the relationship soon soured. Walz’s awkward romantic gestures began to embarrass Wang, particularly during a ten-day tour of South China, where he attempted to feed her in public.
“People were staring at us. I tried to reject it because I was very afraid,” she recounted, emphasizing the cultural expectations she felt pressured to uphold as a teacher.
During a stay on Hainan Island, Wang confronted Walz about their future together. She expressed her desire for marriage, only to feel insulted when he suggested she was more interested in obtaining a U.S. passport than in a genuine relationship.
“This was very offensive. I told him that it is both or nothing,” Wang stated firmly. She explained that moving to Nebraska—“a cold place in the middle of nowhere that most Chinese people had never heard of”—was a sacrifice she would only make for love.
Feeling devalued and used, Wang ultimately decided to end the relationship. The emotional turmoil culminated in a moment of despair when she considered taking her own life on a remote cliff after leaving Walz in a hotel.
“I felt dead inside. I wasn’t going to force a person to love me,” she lamented. From that point on, their paths diverged dramatically.
While Walz went on to lead summer trips to China and married Gwen Whipple, another teacher, in 1994, Wang relocated to Europe, where she has since built a career as a teacher, translator, and cultural mediator.
The couple’s communication dwindled over the years, with their last exchange occurring on Facebook in 2009.
Despite their brief reconnection, Wang expressed disappointment in Walz’s behavior and its impact on her life. She believes that Walz’s past actions, including his misrepresentations regarding the Tiananmen Square protests, reveal a lack of integrity that disqualifies him from a significant leadership role.
“This is a very crucial moment in history, and a man like this does not appear to have the character and integrity to do one of the most important jobs in the world,” she concluded.
As Walz navigates the political landscape as a vice presidential candidate, this chapter of his past serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of love, ambition, and the consequences of choices made in the shadows of history.
A spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding these revelations.
This article firstly appeared on the Daily Mail.