A Chinese-American academic faced a conviction in a Brooklyn court on Tuesday after his activities as an illegal agent for Beijing were uncovered.
Shujun Wang, the founder of a pro-democracy organization in New York, reportedly exploited his role to monitor dissidents and relay information to the Chinese government for more than ten years.
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According to prosecutors, Wang led a dual existence for the Ministry of State Security in Beijing. By portraying himself as a pro-democracy and anti-government activist, he was able to gain the confidence of genuine advocates and subsequently pass along their information.
Chinese-American scholar Wang Shujun speaks to reporters after being found guilty in a Brooklyn federal court for acting as an illegal agent for China’s government, New York, U.S., August 6, 2024. (REUTERS/Luc Cohen)
The federal jury concluded on Tuesday with a guilty verdict against Wang for serving as an illegal agent.
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“The indictment might resemble a storyline from a spy thriller, yet the reality is that the evidence confirms the defendant’s role as a covert agent for the Chinese government,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace to the Associated Press.
The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducts a flag-raising ceremony at Bayi Square commemorating the 97th anniversary on Army Day on August 1, 2024, in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. (Ma Yue/VCG via Getty Images)
Shujun Wang maintained his innocence. His defense team contended that his communications may not have been under the control of Chinese authorities.
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This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.
