Linda Sun and her husband are accused by the Justice Department of promoting the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda on key concerns such as isolating Taiwan, underplaying the Uyghur genocide, and promoting positive attitudes toward Beijing. In return for her service, Sun received millions of dollars from China. These funds allowed Sun to purchase luxuries, including a Hawaii penthouse and a Ferrari. It’s concerning that a Chinese agent had tentacles into the highest levels of New York politics.
This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to China’s illicit influence campaigns against the United States. Other recent examples of successful Chinese influence operations include the saga of Fang Fang, a Chinese honeytrap agent who targeted Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and the still unnamed spy inside the office of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
It’s clear that China’s espionage and influence operations targeting America are vast in scale. FBI Director Christopher Wray warned in 2020 that the bureau was investigating Chinese espionage efforts in "all 56 of our field offices. And over the past decade, we’ve seen economic espionage cases with a link to China increase by approximately 1,300%." That caseload has not declined since 2020. China’s influence efforts extend to the state and local levels, seeking to forge early links with the next generation of political stars. This concern underlines why Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) deserves greater media scrutiny over his long-term relationship with China.
Yes, the new Chinese border tsar has been appointed and is simply waiting to take office.
It’s not just America facing this challenge. These Chinese antics extend across the globe. In the United Kingdom, lawyer Christine Lee was identified by that nation’s security service for working to influence members of Parliament in China’s favor. As part of these efforts, Lee donated $760,000 to a Labour member of Parliament, Barry Gardiner. Gardiner has adopted views in China’s favor. Sometimes, China’s influence efforts are quite extraordinary. Until recently, for example, New Zealand had two Chinese agents serving as members of its parliament.
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