A man who was involved in a pressure campaign targeting expatriates on behalf of the Chinese government has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. This incident sheds light on the allegations made by U.S. authorities regarding China's alleged harassment and intimidation of dissidents and critics living abroad. The accused, along with two others, were found guilty of seeking out a former Chinese official, Xu Jin, in New Jersey and pressuring him to return to China to face bribery allegations.
The convicted individual, a Chinese citizen named Zheng Congying, was charged with stalking and stalking conspiracy. He was acquitted of other charges related to the case. Zheng was reported to have knocked on Xu's door, peered inside the home, and left a threatening note urging Xu to return to China or face consequences for his family. Despite his actions, Zheng's lawyer mentioned during the trial that his client regretted his behavior and attempted to retrieve the note afterwards.
The defendants did not testify in court, but their legal representatives argued that they believed they were assisting a private entity rather than the Chinese government. Another defendant, Zhu Yong, was sentenced to two years in prison last week, while a retired U.S. police sergeant named Michael McMahon is awaiting sentencing later this winter.
In total, three individuals pleaded guilty in connection with this case, while five others who were charged are believed to be in China and have not appeared in U.S. court. The Chinese government has denied engaging in any activities to harass or intimidate individuals abroad, stating that their 'Operation Fox Hunt' is aimed at bringing fugitives back to China to face justice.
