A Chinese national has been charged with acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed local California politician.

Summary

Yaoning “Mike” Sun, a 64-year-old Chinese national, was arrested for allegedly acting as an illegal agent for Beijing while managing a Southern California city council campaign in 2022.

Prosecutors accuse Sun of working with Chen Jun, who was recently jailed for similar charges, to help elect a pro-Beijing politician, later described as a “new political star.”

Sun, who has ties to the Chinese military, allegedly sought Chinese funding for pro-Beijing activities in the U.S.

Authorities warn this reflects Beijing’s growing efforts to influence U.S. local elections and foreign policy.