Wang Shujun, a prominent Chinese-American scholar, was convicted on August 6, 2021, after a seven-day trial in Brooklyn federal court. The evidence presented during the trial proved that Wang had been acting as a spy for communist China for over a decade. Despite his public persona as a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and co-founder of a pro-democracy organization in New York, Wang was secretly spying on pro-democracy activists and sharing his findings with officials from China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The 75-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen was found guilty on four counts, including acting as a foreign agent without notifying the U.S. attorney general and making false statements to law enforcement officers.
The trial unveiled Wang’s involvement in espionage dating back to the early 2000s when he still resided in China. He maintained close contact with the MSS, even after moving to the United States in the 1990s and becoming an American citizen. While living in America, Wang continued to provide information about pro-democracy activists he encountered to the MSS. To maintain his cover, he actively participated in pro-democracy events, delivered speeches criticizing the Chinese regime, and published articles condemning their actions. Additionally, Wang co-founded an organization called the Chinese Institute of America that aimed to promote Chinese culture and democracy.
Further evidence presented during the trial revealed that Wang would meet with his MSS handlers during visits to China and granted them access to his email account containing sensitive information. Over 70 audio recordings were submitted as evidence; these recordings were made by listening devices installed by FBI agents inside Wang’s apartment. In these recordings, Wang admitted spying on activists and providing information to China.
Wang’s conviction has raised concerns about individuals’ loyalty towards their adopted countries. The FBI has issued warnings regarding China’s active recruitment of individuals residing in America who may act against American interests. This case highlights how hostile nations seek infiltration opportunities for espionage activities aimed at undermining U.S.’s political system.
Moreover, tensions between the United States and China were evident throughout this trial; government officials labeled Wang as a traitor who betrayed his adopted country while defending him argued that he was unfairly targeted due to his Chinese background—claiming an overreaction from U.S authorities towards his actions.
However,the jury’s verdict put those arguments aside by finding him guilty on all four counts
