67-year-old democracy activist Tang Yuanjun was arrested in Flushing, Queens, New York on August 21 for allegedly concealing his identity as a Chinese Communist Party agent. Another pro-democracy activist in the United States, Wang Shujun, was recently convicted of acting as a spy for the CCP on August 6.
Investigators revealed that Tang Yuanjun first sought ways to visit China in 2018, where he made contact with a Chinese state security officer online. From 2018 to June 2023, Tang regularly received instructions from state security intelligence officers through email, encrypted chats, text messages, and audio-video calls. He reported information about Chinese-American democracy activists and dissidents needed by the CCP.
Tang faces three charges: conspiring to act as a CCP agent without registering with the Department of Justice, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; concealing from the U.S. government acting as an agent of a foreign government, punishable by up to ten years in prison; and making false statements to investigators, which could result in a five-year sentence.
Hu Ping, the honorary editor of “Beijing Spring” and a political commentator, expressed surprise at the situation involving Tang Yuanjun. He noted that Tang had a long history in democracy activism and had even fled to Taiwan from China before seeking asylum in the United States.
Canadian-Chinese writer and former head of the Alliance for China Democracy Canada, Sheng Xue, also knew Tang Yuanjun for many years. She highlighted Tang’s involvement in various democracy movements and organizations in New York, emphasizing his significant role in promoting democracy among Chinese citizens.
Despite knowing Tang’s long history of activism, Sheng Xue found it regrettable that he chose to return to China, fearing the consequences of any potential deal he might make with the authorities.
Hu Ping mentioned Tang’s challenging personal circumstances, with his elderly mother and disabled brother passing away, leaving only his elderly father behind in need of care.
Court documents revealed that Tang had been imprisoned in China for opposing the CCP’s one-party rule after the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. He later sought political asylum in Taiwan before becoming a U.S. citizen and settling in New York City.
Regarding Tang’s arrest, Sheng Xue expressed sorrow and highlighted the challenges faced by activists dealing with CCP’s tactics of coercion and manipulation.
Reflecting on the incident, Hu Ping emphasized the inevitability of CCP infiltration in democracy movements but stressed that such challenges had not hindered the overall advancement of the pro-democracy cause.
He noted the recent vandalism of a statue commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre in California and stressed the importance of addressing such actions seriously.
While acknowledging the difficulties posed by CCP-affiliated overseas groups, Hu Ping pointed out the ineffectiveness of U.S. investigative agencies in effectively dealing with their activities.
The FBI found that Tang Yuanjun had been compromised by the CCP since 2018 before being arrested in 2024, employing a strategy of “reeling in big fish” to uncover more potential collaborators.
Sheng Xue believed that there might be more individuals collaborating with the CCP within pro-democracy circles and cited a recent case in Germany as an example.
She emphasized that the CCP, as a dictatorial regime, feared individuals advocating for democracy, making anyone with democratic ideals a target of the regime’s aggression and manipulation.
Despite the challenges faced by activists, Sheng Xue highlighted the CCP’s persistent efforts to undermine and control dissenting voices, emphasizing the importance of standing firm against such coercion.
In conclusion, both Hu Ping and Sheng Xue underscored the necessity for pro-democracy activists to remain vigilant and resolute in their pursuits despite the obstacles and threats posed by the CCP’s infiltration and intimidation tactics.