The recent conviction of Wang Shujun, the 76-year-old secretary-general of the Hu Yaobang Zhao Ziyang Foundation, on four charges including “foreign agent,” has sparked widespread discussion within the Chinese community. Many observers believe that this case serves as a warning from the FBI and the Department of Justice to the Chinese community, signaling the increasingly urgent choices Chinese people are facing amidst the backdrop of escalating tensions between China and the United States.
Wang Juntao, Chairman of the China Democracy Party, stated that Wang Shujun’s tragedy serves as a wake-up call not only for the democracy movement but also for the entire Chinese community. Having known Wang Shujun for over twenty years, Wang Juntao described him as someone who genuinely believed in democracy and despised authoritarianism. However, Wang Shujun thought he could navigate his interactions with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) without causing harm and obtain certain conveniences while also working for the democracy movement. Wang Juntao believed that such behavior was not criminal, but the facts proved him wrong.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on November 22, 2016, Wang Shujun was instructed by Guo Anjie, a national security officer in Qingdao, Shandong Province, to focus on “Atao’s communication with Tibetans, Uighurs, and Mongolians” during an upcoming democratic event.
Despite being a victim in Wang Shujun’s case, Wang Juntao still sympathizes with him. He pointed out that Wang Shujun was initially not involved in the democracy movement, but merely a Chinese scholar and enthusiast of democracy who felt outraged by the Tiananmen Square Massacre. He was later brought into the Hu Zhao Foundation by Mr. Chen Yizi.
“He (Wang Shujun) told me that he was a sacrificial lamb in the deterioration of US-China relations. I told him that he was a sacrificial lamb in Xi Jinping’s policy towards the US,” Wang Juntao remarked. He stated that many people were already aware of Wang Shujun’s actions when he was conducting his “diary” work.
“He did this out of desperation. As far as I know, if the CCP sets their sights on you and asks for your cooperation, few Chinese individuals can refuse. Otherwise, you won’t be able to return to China, and there will be other troubles. However, once you cooperate, you will violate US law,” he said. In Wang Shujun’s case, the fundamental principle in the US is the idea of not having two masters, whereas Chinese national security laws clearly require all Chinese citizens to cooperate. “So ultimately, it’s the CCP causing trouble, making it impossible for overseas Chinese to live freely.”
Regarding Wang Shujun’s case, Wang Juntao views it as a predicament created by the CCP. In this game scenario, there are Chinese individuals who sincerely help the CCP but deceive the US government; those who deal with the CCP but are afraid to completely sever ties with the US; and those who appear to cooperate on the surface but are actually opposed internally, thereby violating US laws and failing to truly break free from CCP control. Wang Juntao emphasized that individuals with strong conscience principles cannot be bought by the CCP, as they would usually drag them down.
Lu Dong, an 86th American student studying abroad and spokesperson for the China Christian Democratic Party, mentioned that based on Wang Shujun’s case, his son-in-law in Hong Kong needed someone with national security background to support his business, leading to interactions with national security to share information ultimately resulting in an attempt to “seek skin from a tiger” with the CCP, which ended up harming himself.
In the context of the escalating US-China confrontation, Lu Dong stressed that Chinese people are facing increasingly imminent choices. “Are you standing on the side of the free world? Or are you reluctant to cut ties with the CCP due to your personal interests? In this game scenario, it’s either black or white, with no middle ground.”
Lu Dong warned that Wang Shujun’s case highlights the high vigilance maintained by the US Department of Justice and the FBI towards potential spy activities within the Chinese community. He cautioned, “If you are not straightforward, you will eventually be targeted by the FBI. Wang Shujun is a case in point; the FBI has been monitoring him for five years.”
Although most overseas Chinese may not face such dilemmas because the CCP has no interest in them, individuals holding sensitive information or having beneficial relationships with the CCP need to be particularly cautious. “Leaders, researchers, and technical experts who are in contact with the CCP need to make clear and definitive choices. Those who collaborate closely with the CCP, as well as spies sent by the CCP to infiltrate the US early on, face significant choices.”
As prosecution expert witness Alex Joske pointed out, the United Front Work Department of the CCP specifically focuses on ethnic minorities, religious figures, prominent figures within the Chinese community, individuals who represent broader interest groups, community organizations or religious movements, as well as those with international connections in China. National security is also interested in the academic field, including university professors and employees, as well as political figures, government officials, and advisors. National security is also interested in influential business figures with political sway.
Lu Dong noted that Wang Shujun’s case highlights the conflicting interests between the US and China in the current confrontation. He reminded technical experts and community leaders within the Chinese community not to try to play both sides between the two countries. “Either engage in your profession in the US and maintain distance from the CCP, or simply return to China to build socialism.”
Lu Dong also mentioned that one of Wang Shujun’s misconceptions was believing that his actions “did not cause harm.” “In reality, his actions indirectly aided the CCP in its repressive actions.”
Lastly, Lu Dong urged the Chinese community to maintain a clear mind, stay away from the CCP’s united front and temptations, and ensure the freedom and security of themselves and future generations in the US. “Since you are on this land of freedom in America, if you want your future generations to always enjoy the values of freedom, then you should not have any involvement with the CCP. You should cut ties decisively and not be wishy-washy.”