Man Charged As Chinese Agent For Infiltrating California Politics

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – Amid growing concerns about Chinese infiltration, U.S. investigators have charged a man as an “illegal agent” of China while he worked as a campaign manager for a candidate in a California city’s municipal election.

Radio Free Asia identified the 64-year-old man as Mike Sun, also known as Sun Yaoning. He was arrested on December 19 and accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) while managing a political campaign during the 2022 municipal elections.

Sun is also linked to Chen Jun, who was sentenced to 20 months in prison last month for acting as an unregistered Chinese agent and bribing an IRS official in a scheme targeting U.S.-based practitioners of the banned Falun Gong movement.

Sun’s arrest is part of a broader Chinese influence campaign on U.S. soil, known as “Project Termite.” This covert operation, described by pro-democracy activists and former Chinese officials, aims to slowly erode foreign governments and institutions from within. Through “Project Termite,” the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department seeks to extend the party’s political influence globally, infiltrating foreign governments and communities to advance Beijing’s interests.

Sun acted as the campaign manager and personal advisor to a Southern California politician during the 2022 election. He reportedly engaged with Chinese government officials to discuss strategies to influence U.S. local politicians, particularly on issues related to Taiwan. Sun is accused of sending detailed reports to Chinese officials, organizing meetings, and seeking financial support to sway politicians’ views on Taiwan, which Beijing claims despite Taiwan’s status as a democratic nation.

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