A California resident accused of working as an agent for the Chinese government has been arrested by federal officials. Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, of Chino Hills, is charged with illegally acting as an agent for the People’s Republic of China.
Sun allegedly worked alongside John Chen, another Chinese national already convicted of similar offenses. Chen, 71, was sentenced to 20 months in prison last month after being found guilty of operating as an unregistered agent of the PRC and bribing an IRS official.
Authorities claim that Sun and Chen collaborated to influence local elections, particularly targeting candidates perceived as favorable to Beijing’s foreign policy interests. According to the Department of Justice, their efforts were focused on gaining sway over elected officials to influence discussions surrounding Taiwan and other sensitive issues.
The complaint describes a Southern California politician, referred to as “Individual 1,” whose campaign Sun managed in 2022. After this individual was elected, Sun allegedly provided Chen with updates about their political status. Chen reportedly passed this information to Chinese government entities, including a CCP division known as the United Front Work Department.
A photograph included in the complaint shows Chen shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021. Officials suggest this demonstrates Chen’s connections to senior CCP leadership and underscores the scale of Beijing’s influence operations.
Sun is also listed as a campaign treasurer for Eileen Wang, a member of the Arcadia City Council elected in 2022. Both Sun and Wang are reportedly connected to U.S. News Center, a media outlet based in California. Wang has not been accused of any wrongdoing and declined to comment on the allegations.
The FBI emphasized that this case highlights the extent of China’s attempts to interfere in American politics. Authorities allege that such operations are part of a broader strategy to shape policy and public opinion in the United States.
