Alleged Chinese Spy Arrested in Boston

U.S. Citizen Arrested for Working with Chinese Communist Party to Suppress Political Dissenters

In mid-April, the Department of Justice announced major developments in three cases involving Chinese espionage in the U.S. Subsequently, we learned that there were, in fact, multiple such “police stations” operating both in the U.S. and worldwide. All of which, of course, came shortly after Curious Case of the Chinese Spy Balloon — about which we’re learning some further troubling information regarding the Biden Administration’s response.

Now, there’s been another development regarding U.S.-based Chinese espionage. On Tuesday, a U.S. citizen accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to suppress political dissenters was arrested in Boston.

The Indictment

Litang Liang – a resident of Brighton in Boston, Massachusetts – was indicted Tuesday, charged with plans to act as an agent of a foreign government. According to the unsealed indictment:

1. Beginning in or around 2018, and continuing through at least 2022, LIANG acted within the United States as an agent of the government of the People‘s Republic of China (“PRC”). LIANG’S acts included providing the PRC government with information on Boston-area, individuals and organizations; organizing a counter-protest in the United States against pro-democracy dissidents; providing photographs of and information about U.S.-based dissidents to PRC government officials; and providing the names of potential recruits to the PRC‘s Ministry of Public security. At no point did LIANG notify the United States, Attorney General that he was acting as a PRC government agent.
2. LIANG communicated with the PRC government officials – knowing them to be PRC government officials – in several ways. These included telephone calls and messages using the social media application WeChat. WeChat is the international version of the PRC-based electronic communication app Weixin that can be downloaded to a user‘s mobile phone. WeChat currently has over one billion active users. Its uses include text messaging, voice, messaging, and photo and video sharing. All WeChat communications are stored on servers outside the United States.

The indictment goes on to outline communications Liang had with PRC officials, including, among other things, regarding the destruction of PRC flags in Boston’s Chinatown by a student activist, the “political standing” of a local lawyer, and the name of an individual who worked for an elected official in Boston. The alleged purpose of Liang’s actions was to “covertly advance the PRC government’s goals and agenda within the United States.”

Charges

Liang is charged with:

• Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of a Foreign Government Without Prior Notification (in violation of 18 U.S.C 371)
• Acting as an Agent of a Foreign Government Without Notice to the Attorney General (in violation of 18 U.S.C. 951*)

I wondered in the article regarding the additional Chinese “police stations” operating in the U.S. whether these additional outposts were under investigation by the DOJ. While Boston wasn’t among those cities identified, it does appear that the DOJ is at least endeavoring to ferret out Chinese espionage operations here in the U.S.

*Otherwise known as the “Foreign Agents Registration Act” or “FARA”

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