A Chinese retiree, Zhu Yong, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a campaign to pressure a former Chinese official to return to China. Zhu, along with two other men, was found guilty of charges including stalking and acting as an illegal foreign agent in a trial that highlighted U.S. claims of Chinese harassment of critics overseas.
The target of the campaign, former Chinese city official Xu Jin, faced various forms of pressure to return to China, where he and his wife were accused of bribery. Tactics used against Xu included surveillance, disparaging messages sent to his daughter's Facebook friends, and an ominous note left on his door.
During the sentencing, Zhu expressed regret and asked for forgiveness, stating that he did not fully understand the implications of his actions. He pleaded for a chance to start anew and to be able to see his grandchild grow up in the U.S.
The judge characterized the crimes as a threat to national security and questioned Zhu about his intentions in assisting a Chinese government figure in locating Xu. Zhu claimed he was unaware of the extent of harm his actions could cause and believed he was helping collect a debt.
The case is seen as an example of transnational repression, with prosecutors alleging that the defendants were working on behalf of Chinese authorities to intimidate dissenters abroad. The U.S. and China do not have an extradition treaty, complicating efforts to prosecute individuals involved in such cases.
Zhu is set to begin his prison term on April 15, while his co-defendants are awaiting sentencing. Eight other individuals have been charged in connection with the harassment campaign, with some pleading guilty and others believed to be in China.
