On Thursday, a Chinese national who was the campaign manager for an unknown politician elected to a Southern California city council two years ago was arrested on charges of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government.
The arrest of Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, is a sign that the Chinese government has set up a network of operatives to influence local elections in the United States and field politicians who are friendly to China and can help advance Chinese interests. The move comes amid growing concerns that the children are being fostered.
According to a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Son is accused of conspiring with Chen Jun, who was sentenced last month to 20 months in prison, as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. .
Chen, 71, also a Chinese national, pleaded guilty in July to using Chinese funds to bribe federal officials to undermine the anti-Beijing spiritual group Falun Gong. The charges against Mr. Son also indicate that Mr. Chen also conspired to interfere in local elections.
It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Sun had a lawyer who could argue on his behalf.
According to the affidavit, Mr. Chen was instructed by Mr. Chen to prepare a report in 2023 detailing to Chinese authorities how he helped elect local politicians. Subsequent letters between the two men described the councilman as a “new political star” and included a request for $80,000 to fund expanded pro-China activities in the U.S., according to court documents. That's what it means.
Mr. Chen asked the Sun to list all mainstream U.S. politicians that city council members are familiar with, telling the Sun that it would be “very effective in elevating the standing” of city council members in China. Ta.
“This case is another example of a very worrying trend,” Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a phone call with reporters. I'm trying to do that,” he said. . “To do so, Chinese government officials are seeking to help elect individuals they deem friendly to China's foreign policy.”
The charges against Sun follow those filed in September against two former aides to New York's governor. Authorities have accused Linda Sun of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and using her position to advance Beijing's policies in exchange for millions of dollars worth of financial benefits. There is.
Estrada said in California that Sun Yaoning appears to be ideologically invested in promoting Beijing's interests in the United States, noting that he previously served in the Chinese military. Although the complaint does not specify any financial interest in Yaoning Sun, they are likely not related to Linda Sun because they share a common Chinese name.
The affidavit also alleges that Yaoning Sun, who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills, ran a media outlet called U.S. News Center with the congressman and paid for some of the congressman's travel expenses.
Prosecutors say Mr. Son worked closely with Mr. Chen, who appears to have been in regular contact with Chinese officials. Their exchanges also included ways to protest a proposed visit by a U.S. congressman to Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing considers part of its territory.
The men discussed how to set up meetings for politicians to meet with China's top diplomats in Los Angeles and how to arrange travel plans for politicians to visit China.
