Brooklyn-based US lawyer Breon Peace described the recent indictment as a plot of a spy novel, highlighting the shocking evidence that the defendant was a secret agent for the Chinese government. This defendant, Wang, faced charges of acting as a covert pipeline for information that Beijing sought on various activists and protestors in the US and elsewhere.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Wang faced up to 25 years in prison for his involvement. The case shed light on US prosecutors’ efforts to combat what they perceive as “transnational repression” by foreign governments.
Wang was portrayed as a gregarious academic with nothing to hide, but evidence suggested he operated as a conduit for sensitive information requested by the Chinese government. His sentencing is scheduled for January 9, as the case continues to unravel the complex web of international espionage.