A Southern California resident has been charged with spying for the People’s Republic of China. Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, was arrested in Chino Hills on allegations that he worked as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government.
The Department of Justice accuses Sun of collaborating with John Chen, a 71-year-old who was convicted last month of acting as an illegal PRC agent and bribing an IRS official. Chen received a 20-month prison sentence for his activities.
Authorities allege that Sun and Chen sought to sway local elections by supporting candidates sympathetic to Beijing. Their focus reportedly included advancing pro-China stances on issues like Taiwan.
Court filings state that Sun managed the campaign of a city council candidate, identified as “Individual 1,” who won their election in 2022. Prosecutors claim Sun kept Chen updated on the candidate’s progress, and Chen then shared the information with officials in Beijing.
A photograph included in the complaint depicts Chen meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021. Federal agents allege this image highlights Chen’s deep connections within the Chinese Communist Party and the scope of his influence operations.
Sun is also connected to Arcadia City Council member Eileen Wang, having served as her campaign treasurer. Both individuals reportedly have ties to U.S. News Center, a California-based media outlet. Wang has not responded to inquiries about the matter.
