Michael Yang (Chinese businessman)

Yang Hongming (杨鸿明), more commonly known as Michael Yang in the Philippines, is a Chinese businessman and is an associate of 16th Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Education
Yang claimed on his website that he attended Princeton University where he obtained a doctorate degree in business administration. When asked to clarify, Yang said he obtained a "certificate" from Princeton and says that the American university runs a program through its branch in Beijing.

Business career
Yang is based in the Philippines for at least 20 years, starting his ventures in the country in Davao City. He has been a permanent resident in the country. He also owns the Davao City Los Amigos (DCLA).

He is a member of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce Labuan, the executive director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, the vicechairman of China-Philippines Friendship, and the managing director of Fujian Normal University.

Yang was associated with Pharmally, which was involved in a scandal regarding the procurement of medical supplies for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political involvement
During the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, Yang served as the chief executive's economic advisor at least for the year 2018. According to presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, he was tapped for the role due to his rags to riches background, connections to the Chinese government and knowledge on Chinese culture. His appointment was initially denied by Duterte to have occurred due to Yang's supposed ineligibility due to being a Chinese citizen.

According to Duterte, Yang maintains close relations to Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua and is part of the Chinese delegation to China. Despite his connections, Yang has explicitly denied being a member of the Chinese Communist Party or have influenced Duterte's foreign policy.

Duterte, who is noted for his war on drugs campaign, has cleared Yang of involvement in the illegal drug trade, using Yang's very connection to the Chinese government to dissuade the allegation believing that its officials would not associate with drug lords.