A Chinese American scholar, Shujun Wang, was found guilty by a federal jury in New York of charges related to acting as a foreign agent for China. Wang, a pro-democracy activist, was accused of using his reputation to gather information on dissidents and sharing it with the Chinese government's intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security.
Prosecutors alleged that Wang led a double life for over a decade, portraying himself as a critic of the Chinese government to gain the trust of dissidents, only to betray them by providing information to Beijing. Despite Wang's plea of not guilty, the jury convicted him on charges including conspiring to act as a foreign agent without notifying the U.S. attorney general.
Wang, who faces up to 25 years in prison, is scheduled for sentencing in January. Four Chinese officials charged alongside him remain at large. The case is part of U.S. efforts to combat what is perceived as 'transnational repression,' where foreign operatives target critics living abroad.
The Chinese embassy in Washington denied engaging in such practices, emphasizing respect for international law and sovereignty. Wang, who became a U.S. citizen after moving to New York in 1994, co-founded a pro-democracy group and maintained ties to Chinese dissidents.
Prosecutors revealed that Wang communicated with Chinese intelligence through encrypted messages and saved incriminating emails as drafts for access by Chinese officials. Despite Wang's claims that he provided only publicly available information, FBI agents testified that he admitted to gathering data on democracy advocates at the agency's request.
During FBI interviews, Wang initially denied contacts with the Ministry of State Security but later acknowledged his involvement in gathering information. His defense portrayed him as a patriotic American fighting against authoritarianism in China, emphasizing his openness with authorities.
Wang's case sheds light on the complexities of espionage and foreign influence, underscoring the challenges posed by individuals operating as clandestine agents within democratic societies.
