In the days following the exposure of the Linda Sun case, New York State Assemblyman Jin Doo-sik, a Korean-American, told the media that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to “steal” seats in the New York State Assembly. China experts believe that the CCP’s infiltration has already harmed the political aspirations of Chinese Americans in the U.S., and in the future, Chinese Americans entering politics may undergo strict background checks.
There is a clear presence of foreign forces – groups connected to mainland China and the CCP attempting to influence election outcomes, exerting efforts to seize the seats in Flushing district, as stated by Jin Doo-sik in an interview with the New York Post. He expressed concerns about this multi-layered operation, stating, “We are entering a dangerous territory, and I am unsure if we can prevent it.”
Jin Doo-sik made these remarks against the backdrop of the arrest of Linda Sun, former Deputy Chief of Staff at the New York Governor’s Office, for failure to register as a “foreign agent.” She and her husband, Hu Xiao, were accused of acting as unregistered agents for the CCP, working for CCP interests in exchange for millions of dollars.
Jin Doo-sik’s opponent, Democratic State Assembly candidate Andy Chen, held a large-scale campaign event in downtown Flushing before the party primary in June. Apart from the participation of the New York City Police Union chairman, the most notable aspect was the support from numerous pro-CCP overseas Chinese groups, including the President of the American-Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, John Chan.
Data shows that an increasing number of Chinese Americans are actively participating in politics. Jin Doo-sik believes that the vast majority among them “are loyal to American causes and American capital,” but “there is a wave of organizations related to the CCP that are not loyal to our way of life.”
China experts believe that the Linda Sun incident will prompt more individuals to follow the example of Congressman Jin in scrutinizing the CCP backgrounds of their opponents, and governments at all levels in the U.S. will tighten background checks on Chinese American candidates.
“The infiltration of the CCP has caused significant harm to Chinese Americans in the U.S., and this harm is not easily eradicated,” said Wang He, a commentator on current Chinese affairs. “If someone like Linda Sun, who came to the United States at the age of five, could be bought off by the CCP, then people born in mainland China in the future, or even Chinese Americans born in the U.S., will face increasingly stringent scrutiny when applying for positions in American politics and business. Because currently, the CCP is America’s biggest enemy, and aligning with the CCP will be self-destructive.”
However, Wang He noted that the U.S. is a free democratic country that does not exclude “Chinese people,” but rather, “the CCP.” “There is a consensus in the U.S. political sphere that separates ‘CCP,’ ‘China,’ and ‘Chinese people.'”
“In this situation, Chinese Americans in the U.S. must understand the circumstances and draw clear boundaries with the CCP. Currently, Chinese Americans are becoming more politically active, but the biggest obstacle they face is the CCP. Getting entangled with the CCP will lead to trouble.”
Our attempts to contact Jin Doo-sik and Andy Chen for comments have not yet been successful.