Chinese dissident charged with spying for China in New York
Chinese dissident accused of spying on US-based pro-democracy groups
Federal prosecutors in New York apprehended a Chinese dissident residing in the U.S., accusing him of clandestinely working for China’s intelligence agency and spying on pro-democracy activist groups.
Yuanjun Tang, 67, faces charges of acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and providing materially false statements to the FBI, according to a press release from the U.S. Justice Department.
Authorities claim Tang has been spying in the U.S. since 2018 on instructions from the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
Tang defected to Taiwan in 2002 after being imprisoned for protesting the one-party political system dominated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Granted asylum in the U.S. after defecting to Taiwan, Tang resided in New York City.
Federal agents assert that between 2018 and around June 2023, Tang acted as an agent of the PRC, executing tasks directed by the MSS.
Authorities allege that Tang relayed information about U.S.-based Chinese democracy organisations to the PRC.
He also reportedly met with MSS intelligence officers at least three times and helped them join encrypted messaging applications used by PRC dissidents and pro-democracy activists.
During the investigation, federal authorities recovered photographs, videos, and documents with instructions from the MSS.
Tang allegedly made materially false statements to the FBI, claiming he could no longer access an email account used to communicate with his MSS handler through draft emails.
Tang faces one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the attorney general, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison; one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the attorney general, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and one count of making false statements, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI continues its investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was arrested by federal prosecutors in New York?
Chinese dissident Yuanjun Tang.
What is Yuanjun Tang accused of?
Covertly working for China’s intelligence agency and spying on U.S.-based pro-democracy activist groups.
How long has Tang been allegedly spying for China?
Since 2018.
What are the potential penalties Tang faces if convicted?
Up to 20 years in prison for acting as an unregistered agent and making false statements.
What did Tang falsely claim to the FBI?
He claimed he could no longer access an email account used to communicate with his MSS handler.
