"A Southern California man was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as a covert Chinese agent while helping elect an Arcadia City Council member. Yaoning Sun also surveiled Taiwan's president during her 2023 visit to America, countered pro-Taiwan independence movements and spread pro-China propaganda online. His case provides a glimpse into the Chinese government's efforts to influence local officials in the U.S."
"Sun worked for years as an illegal agent for the People's Republic of China, submitting reports to high-level government officials on the work he carried out on their behalf, according to a sentencing memorandum written by federal prosecutors. This work included countering Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China that has followers in Southern California, and pro-Taiwanese independence forces, as well as performing surveillance of the then-president of Taiwan during her April 2023 visit to the U.S. and publishing pro-PRC propaganda on an online news site."
Yaoning Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the People's Republic of China and was sentenced to four years in federal prison. He submitted reports to high-level PRC officials and engaged in activities including countering Falun Gong, opposing pro-Taiwan independence movements, performing surveillance of Taiwan's president during her April 2023 U.S. visit, and publishing pro-PRC propaganda online. Sun served as a campaign advisor and fiancé to Eileen Wang during her 2022 Arcadia City Council campaign and helped her win election. Federal records link his political activity to PRC influence operations targeting local U.S. officials.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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