Chinese National Charged With Influencing California Campaign

Federal agents have arrested a California man accused of working as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China. Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, from Chino Hills, was taken into custody and charged with espionage-related crimes.

Authorities claim Sun collaborated with John Chen, another Chinese national recently convicted of federal crimes. Chen, 71, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to acting as an unregistered agent for the PRC and attempting to bribe a U.S. official.

According to the Department of Justice, Sun and Chen sought to promote candidates in local elections who were sympathetic to Beijing’s goals. They allegedly focused on individuals they believed would support China’s stance on Taiwan and other contentious issues.

The complaint outlines Sun’s involvement with a candidate, referred to as “Individual 1,” whose campaign Sun managed in 2022. After this candidate was elected, Sun reportedly provided updates to Chen, who then forwarded the information to Chinese officials.

Chen also encouraged pro-China figures to participate in prominent U.S. events, including Independence Day parades, as part of a strategy to counter groups critical of Beijing. A photo included in the complaint shows Chen meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021, further raising concerns about his ties to high-ranking officials.

Sun has also been linked to Eileen Wang, a council member in Arcadia. Both individuals reportedly have ties to U.S. News Center, a media outlet based in California. Wang has not commented on the allegations or her connection to Sun.

The FBI described the case as part of a broader trend of Chinese government efforts to interfere in U.S. elections and influence American policymaking.