Former New York Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Linda Sun, was arrested by the FBI on September 3 for allegedly spying for Beijing. The following day, it was announced that the Chinese consul general in New York was no longer in his position, coinciding with a request from Governor Kathy Hochul to expel him. Analysts view this case as a warning to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its agents operating within the US government.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Sun violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and is facing 10 charges including visa fraud, money laundering, and accepting benefits to benefit China and the CCP. Her husband Christopher Hu has also been charged with multiple crimes including money laundering.
The DOJ stated that Sun acted at the request of CCP officials and engaged in various political activities that favored China and blocked representatives from Taiwan from accessing high-level New York State officers. The charges against her also include manipulating messaging for high-level officers regarding issues important to China, obtaining official proclamations for PRC government representatives without authorization, and arranging meetings between PRC delegations and New York State officials.
Sun allegedly received significant economic benefits from the CCP for these activities. She is a naturalized US citizen who was born in Nanjing, China.
Wang Juntao, chairman of the National Committee of the China Democratic Party, emphasized that this case is crucial because those within the US government who speak on behalf of or act in favor of CCP should be targeted by law enforcement agencies. He mentioned that under former President Donald Trump’s administration FARA crackdown on CCP agents began which has now been systematized under President Biden.
Tang Jingyuan, a US-based current affairs commentator noted that previous arrests mainly involved spies posing as democracy activists or overseas Chinese community leaders collecting intelligence on dissidents or engaging in transnational repression related to human rights issues. However, Sun’s case stands out due to her high position within the US government system which affects policies not only within New York State but also involves diplomatic relations with other countries.
Tony Hu emphasized that civil servants should prioritize helping their own country rather than foreign governments since using their positions to assist foreign governments would be punishable by law.
Regarding Huang Ping leaving his post as Chinese consul general in New York City after serving since November 2018; according to regulations governing personnel at embassies abroad issued by Beijing authorities; consuls serve three-year terms so Huang’s term should have ended this November but he left earlier than expected without being expelled according to U.S State Department spokesman Matthew Miller during a press conference held on September 4th
Wang Juntao mentioned how secret agents deployed all over America are controlled directly by Beijing through its United Front Work Department rather than relying heavily upon consulates like previously believed; however despite FBI efforts sometimes it becomes difficult finding evidence due largely because they operate covertly under exclusive contacts while knowing they are being watched closely
A defected agent who fled Australia revealed he took orders directly from Beijing’s secret police emphasizing how center spy network lies primarily based out-of-country itself ma
