China sentences 78-year-old U.S. citizen to life in prison on spying charges

Good for China to get rid of these moles.

Seems the CCP have taken a que from the "hostage diplomacy" seminar that the Russians helpfully put on for them.

78? He is more likely to die in prison than to be traded. Seems like the CCP should have taken better notes. Perhaps the Russians could be pursuaded to give another demonstration....

Relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a historical low

Just your weekly reminder: elections do have consequences

Spying on the healthcare and pension systems?

Oh look, it is another example of China trumping up charges against one of their "citizens" because everyone that ever lived or whose ancestors came from the Middle Kingdom is subject to the saintly CCP.

Does China hope to force the Biden administration into giving the CCP a superficial win? China has been losing on all fronts against the United States?

When all else fails the CCP can only resort to hostage diplomacy. They probably want to negotiate the release of the two arrested Chinese spies before their cases go to trial. They do not need these two Chinese criminals taking a plea deal and spilling all the beans!

Two Arrested for Operating Illegal Overseas Police Station of the Chinese Government

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-arrested-operating-illegal-overseas-police-station-chinese-government

It is time for the Biden administration to shutdown more illegal Chinese police stations in the US!

He has a right to hire a lawyer to defend his actions in a Chinese tribute. He should get that justice !

@Bordeaux: What illegal China police stations in the U.S. you are talking?

Myths!

elephant200Today  04:38 pm JST

He has a right to hire a lawyer to defend his actions in a Chinese tribute. He should get that justice !

He was detained in 2021 and just sentenced now. Too late for a lawyer to defend his actions because....

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is released other than vague accusations of infiltration, gathering secrets and threatening state security.

He doesn't and never did have the right to a lawyer.

The same thing can happen to a Chinese national or a foreigner. Until the Chinese people hold their 'government' accountable, anybody can be arrested and sentenced without an impartial trial or legal representation.

It is time for the Biden administration to shutdown more illegal Chinese police stations in the US!

If there are such stations they should have been shut down as soon as discovered

The U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment on Leung's detention.

Maybe it's under discussion between govts

After 1,000 days in China detention, family renews call for release of Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei. She was born a Chinese, naturalized in Australia, went back to work in China for CGTN as an undercover spy for the Australian government and got arrested.

At least thirty years. 1000 days is too short.

Where is biden? He should be more vocal about this.

No surprise, as some try to develop and some don’t. Not only, but especially China, North Korea and Russia are psychologically still trapped in their decade long WW2 & Cold War era mindset. The challenges on this planet would require that everyone leaves it’s historical entrapment a few steps and becomes willing to cooperate on several big issues. Hope and probabilities are very low for that though…

However, China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters, civil society and freedom of information forestalls demands for further information, as well as court appeals.

We don't even know what they've done

At least with the illegal Chinese police moles in the US, the data about them is released:

"Two Arrested for Operating Illegal Overseas Police Station of the Chinese Government - Defendants Are New York City Residents Who Allegedly Operated the Police Station in Lower Manhattan and Destroyed Evidence When Confronted by the FBI"

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-arrested-operating-illegal-overseas-police-station-chinese-government

A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging two defendants in connection with opening and operating an illegal overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, New York, for a provincial branch of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “Harry” Lu Jianwang, 61, of the Bronx, and Chen Jinping, 59, of Manhattan, were arrested earlier this morning at their homes in New York City. Their initial appearances are scheduled this afternoon in Brooklyn before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr.

As alleged in the complaint, Lu and Chen are charged with conspiring to act as agents of the PRC government as well as obstructing justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official. The defendants worked together to establish the first overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. The police station – which closed in the fall of 2022 after those operating it became aware of the FBI’s investigation – occupied a floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. While acting under the direction and control of an MPS Official, Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an illegal MPS police station on U.S. soil.

According to Chinese law, if your smartphone has a non-Chinese GPS, you are technically "spying".

China wants only their slightly shifted GPS to be used inside their borders. In short, nearly anyone visiting who brings a smartphone with them is violating Chinese law. https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ddmzv/if-youre-a-foreigner-in-china-it-is-illegal-to-use-gps Under the Chinese "illegal mapping" law, businesses just trying to be efficient with deliveries have been fined.

There is abundant proof of Chinese police stations around the world. Of course, China calls them "unofficial outreach locations", but they are staffed by Chinese police and act like thugs, trying to enforce Chinese laws inside foreign countries, mainly through intimidation.

Could have been a stew pigeon working both sides

China wants only their slightly shifted GPS to be used inside their borders. In short, nearly anyone visiting who brings a smartphone with them is violating Chinese law. https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ddmzv/if-youre-a-foreigner-in-china-it-is-illegal-to-use-gps Under the Chinese "illegal mapping" law, businesses just trying to be efficient with deliveries have been fined.

Interesting. That must be why the overlay of streets and freeways in Google Maps never aligns with the actual satellite image but is always shifted several hundred meters. Always bugged me trying to Google Map places in Shanghai, using my VPN naturally :) Never considered it was illegal to use or have a non-Chinese GPS while visiting. Made my you know what slam shut reading that!

I cannot imagine a 78 year old spying for anyone. That's for younger, abler people. There is more to his arrest and conviction than is being told.

He has a right to hire a lawyer to defend his actions in a Chinese tribute. He should get that justice !

Not sure what lawyers actually do in China as the courts have a 99.9% conviction rate!

After 1,000 days in China detention, family renews call for release of Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei. She was born a Chinese, naturalized in Australia, went back to work in China for CGTN as an undercover spy for the Australian government and got arrested.

Isn't that odd, how everyone of Chinese ancestry that goes to China is an undercover spy.

You’re a fool if you ever even consider entering any territory of china

Moral of the day..

Don't spy on China..

China enforces the law..

Oh look, it is another example of China trumping up charges against one of their "citizens" because everyone that ever lived or whose ancestors came from the Middle Kingdom is subject to the saintly CCP.

Oohhhh, the tears don't stop flowing...

LOL !!..

Not sure what lawyers actually do in China as the courts have a 99.9% conviction rate!

A significant number who defend those jailed for what the democratic world sees as unjustified prosecutions end up in jail themselves.

Moral of the day..

Don't spy on China..

I don't know how much you know about professional spying but spies are almost always working under diplomatic cover. This protects them from arrest as they have diplomatic immunity. The worst that can happen if they get caught is they get declared "Persona non grata" and told to leave. Very few governments ever send people out to spy without the safety net of diplomatic cover. It is just too dangerous and few spies are willing to take those kinds of risks. There is generally no need to expose your spies to arrest. 78 year old's aren't doing that. There is more to this story that isn't being said.

China enforces the law..

Unless it is a CCP official. Then any amount of corruption, violence, or harassing of women is A-OK.

And what about the spy police stations that China has opened in different countries? China has an entire team set up for espionage in different countries worldwide.