Chinese man arrested on charges of acting as Beijing’s agent in California polls

A Chinese man has been arrested for allegedly acting as an illegal agent of the China (PRC) while serving as the campaign manager for a political candidate who was elected in 2022 to the city council of a California city, the US Department of Justice said on Friday.

The Chinese national was identified as Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64.

“Sun (who) was arrested today is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the Central District of California,” US Department of Justice said in a statement.

Sun is also charged with conspiring with another man, Chen Jun, who was sentenced to prison last month for bribery and acting as an illegal agent of the PRC government.

According to the complaint, Sun served as the campaign manager and close personal confidante for a Southern California politician (referred to in the complaint as Individual 1) who ran for local elected office in 2022.

During the campaign, Sun communicated with Chen regarding his efforts to get Individual 1 elected.

Chen allegedly discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could “influence” local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan.

In November 2022, shortly after Individual 1 was elected to office, Chen instructed Sun to prepare a report on the election that was sent to Chinese government officials, who responded positively and expressed thanks, according to the complaint.

About a month after Individual 1’s election, Chen arranged a lunch at a Rowland Heights restaurant with Sun and others, a gathering that Chen described to a PRC official as a “core member lunch,” the complaint alleges.

Chen subsequently described the lunch as “successful” as participants agreed to establish a “US-China Friendship Promotional Association”.

While Individual 1 did not attend the meeting, Chen identified Individual 1 as being part of “the basic team dedicated for us”, in a communication to a Chinese government official.

In early 2023, Chen instructed Sun to write another report for Chinese officials describing “[Sun] and [Chen] cultivating and assisting [Individual 1’s] success,” according to the complaint.

In February 2023, as the second report to PRC officials was being finalised, Sun forwarded to Chen a proposal to combat “anti-China forces” by participating in a U.S. Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C, according to the complaint.

Sun proposed that the PRC government provide an USD 80,000 budget to support his and Chen’s efforts in the United States.

After Chen and Sun discussed a planned trip to China to meet with “leadership”, and after Chen directed Sun to schedule a meeting with the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, Sun and Individual 1 travelled to China in August 2023.

If convicted, Sun faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

Sun also faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI is investigating the case.