Chinese American scholar Shujun Wang was convicted of U.S. charges for acting as a secret agent for China’s Ministry of State Security. He helped found a pro-democracy group and pretended to be a critic of the Chinese government to gather information from dissidents and feed it back to Beijing. Wang pleaded not guilty, but was convicted and faces up to 25 years in prison. Wang’s lawyers argued that his actions were innocuous and that he was a patriotic American fighting the authoritarian regime in China.
Wang sent encrypted emails as “diaries” detailing conversations and plans of various critics of the Chinese government. He saved these emails as drafts, allowing Chinese intelligence officers to read them using a shared password. Wang also relayed details of pro-democracy events and plans to meet with prominent dissidents. While initially denying contacts with the Ministry of State Security, Wang later admitted to gathering information on democracy advocates.
The Chinese embassy in Washington disputes the allegations, claiming they do not engage in transnational repression. Wang came to New York in 1994, taught at a Chinese university, and became a U.S. citizen. He helped found a pro-democracy foundation named after Chinese Communist Party leaders. Wang’s sentencing is set for January 9, and four Chinese officials charged alongside him remain at large. The case reflects U.S. efforts to combat foreign interference in domestic affairs and international espionage.
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