Chinese National Arrested for Acting as Illegal Agent for Beijing

A Chinese national, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, was arrested on Thursday on charges of acting as an illegal agent for Beijing while serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed politician elected to a city council in Southern California two years ago.

Charges and Allegations

According to a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Sun is accused of conspiring with Chen Jun, who was sentenced to 20 months last month for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. Chen, 71, also a Chinese national, pleaded guilty in July to using Chinese money to bribe federal agents to undermine the anti-Beijing spiritual group Falun Gong.

Investigation and Affidavit

Sun was instructed by Chen to write up a report in 2023 to recount to Chinese officials how they helped the local politician get elected, according to the affidavit. Subsequent writings between the two men described the city councilperson as a “new political star” and included a request for $80,000 to fund more pro-Beijing activities in the United States, according to the court documents.

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Investigation and Prosecution

Chen asked Sun to list all the mainstream American politicians the city councilperson was familiar with and told Sun that it would be “very effective to elevate” the status of the councilperson in China. Prosecutors say Sun worked closely with Chen, who appeared to be in regular contact with Chinese officials. Their communications included how to protest a U.S. congressperson’s proposed visit to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing sees as part of Chinese territory.

Conclusion

This case is yet another example of a very disturbing trend: the People’s Republic of China is seeking to influence foreign and domestic policy in the United States. To do so, government officials in China are seeking to help get elected individuals who they see as being friendly to Chinese foreign policy.

FAQs

Q: What is the alleged purpose of Sun’s actions?
A: Sun is accused of acting as an illegal agent for Beijing, working to influence local elections in the U.S. to install politicians who are friendly to Beijing and can help promote Chinese interests.

Q: What is the significance of Chen’s guilty plea?
A: Chen’s guilty plea to using Chinese money to bribe federal agents to undermine Falun Gong demonstrates the extent to which the Chinese government is willing to go to advance its interests in the U.S.

Q: What is the potential impact of this case?
A: This case highlights the growing concern about Chinese interference in U.S. elections and the need for greater vigilance in detecting and preventing such activities.

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