NYC Man Accused of Spying on Chinese Dissidents for Beijing

NYC Man Accused of Spying on Chinese Dissidents for Beijing

The Department of Justice has accused a New York man of working as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, specifically spying on pro-democracy activists and dissidents.

Yuanjun Tang, 67, is alleged to have acted as a Chinese agent from 2018 to 2023, taking orders directly from China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). Tang is accused of providing the MSS with information on individuals and groups deemed "potentially adverse" to China’s interests, including prominent U.S.-based Chinese dissidents.

According to the DOJ, Tang helped the MSS infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by many Chinese dissidents. The DOJ also claims that Tang lied to the FBI, saying he couldn't access an email account used to communicate with his MSS handler.

Tang, a former Chinese citizen who was imprisoned for his dissident activities, was granted political asylum in the U.S. and later became a citizen.

The Chinese Embassy to the United States stated they were unaware of the specifics of the case, but emphasized that China expects its citizens abroad to abide by the host country's laws. The spokesperson also condemned what they called "groundless slandering and smearing" of China.

This case highlights the ongoing tension between the U.S. and China over intelligence and espionage. The DOJ’s accusations against Tang, a former dissident himself, are a significant development in this ongoing struggle.