Chinese-American Scholar Convicted as Foreign Agent in New York
A 75-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen has been found guilty of acting as a foreign agent for China. The conviction has sent shockwaves through New York's Chinese dissident community.
Shujun Wang, a 75-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, has been convicted of acting as a foreign agent for China. The verdict, delivered five months ago, has sent ripples through New York's Chinese dissident community.
Wang, who immigrated to the United States 30 years ago, was found guilty of working on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) to gather information on U.S.-based activists. The MSS, established in 1983, serves as China's primary intelligence and security agency.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Wang had been operating as a covert agent for over a decade, collaborating with at least four MSS agents. They alleged that Wang utilized his position within the activist community to compile detailed reports on Hong Kong, Tibetan, Uyghur, and pro-Taiwan independence activists. These regions have complex relationships with mainland China, often marked by tensions and conflicts.
The case against Wang is part of a broader U.S. Department of Justice initiative to combat transnational repression, particularly efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to surveil and harass its critics abroad. The Chinese Communist Party has ruled China since 1949, and its relationship with the U.S. has been characterized by periods of cooperation and tension.
Wang's defense did not deny communication with Chinese agents but argued that the information shared was not sensitive. His attorney, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, stated, "I think we showed pretty effectively at the trial that what he was doing ... did no harm to the United States or to anyone here."
The conviction has shocked many in New York's Chinese dissident community, where Wang was a respected figure. He had helped found the Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, a pro-democracy group honoring reformist leaders who supported political and economic reforms in China.
"He is a democrat and my friend, [even] though his major work for the Chinese authorities was to collect information about my activities and my organization ... I sympathized with him."
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., which serves as China's diplomatic mission in the U.S., declined to comment on Wang's specific case. However, they expressed opposition to what they termed as the U.S.'s "malicious fabrication of the so-called 'transnational suppression' narrative."
Wang's sentencing was scheduled for January 9, 2024. As a naturalized U.S. citizen, he holds the same rights and responsibilities as native-born citizens, including the right to a fair trial in one of the 94 federal judicial districts in the United States.
This case underscores the complex interplay between national security, diplomatic relations, and individual rights in an increasingly interconnected world. It also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by dissident communities abroad and the far-reaching impact of international political tensions.
