In a recent development, the United States Justice Department has indicted a New York resident, Yuanjun Tang, on charges of espionage for the Chinese government.
The 68-year-old, who resides in Flushing, Queens, is a naturalized American citizen, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of New York.
As reported by the Daily Caller, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Tang has been spying on individuals who have voiced criticism against the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) within the United States. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, As alleged, for years, Yuanjun Tang used his position as a leader among pro-democracy activists in the U.S. to collect information for the Chinese government and to report on people critical of the PRC and events conducted in support of democracy. Williams further emphasized the commitment of his office to counteract the "repressive and illegal use of foreign agents in the U.S. to sow fear and distrust within our communities and subvert our countrys most basic freedoms.
The DOJ alleges that Tang acted as an agent of the PRC, receiving directives from the Ministry of State Security (MSS) between 2018 and 2023. The MSS is recognized for its involvement in counterintelligence, espionage, and foreign intelligence gathering. Tang reportedly communicated with the MSS through various means, including emails, encrypted chats, text messages, and audio and video calls. His activities allegedly targeted individuals and groups perceived by the PRC as threats to its interests, including prominent Chinese democracy activists based in the United States.
Tang is also accused of meeting with MSS officers in person on multiple occasions and facilitating the infiltration of an encrypted messaging group used by Chinese dissidents to discuss pro-democracy issues. During the investigation, law enforcement officials reportedly recovered instructions from the MSS, as well as photographs, videos, and documents that Tang had allegedly collected for transmission to the MSS from his electronic devices.
Tang, a former citizen of the PRC, was imprisoned by authorities there for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) political system. He defected to Taiwan around 2002 and was later reportedly granted political asylum in the United States. Tang has been residing in New York City as a "pro-democracy" activist within the PRC dissident community.
The charges against Tang include conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, and one count of false statements.
If convicted on all three charges, Tang could face up to 20 years in prison. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by foreign agents operating on American soil, undermining the nation's fundamental freedoms and democratic principles.
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