California Turning Red? Alleged Chinese Spy Caught in California Election

Yet another alleged Chinese spy has been charged, 
this time working for a local politician in  

California! Even worse, all of these spies might 
be part of a wider scheme to influence US policy. 

Welcome to China Uncensored, I’m Chris Chappell. 

Another alleged Chinese spy has 
been caught in the United States–

this time, in California!

The spy was charged after working as a campaign 
manager for a local politician elected in 2022.

The politician has gone unnamed in the 
reporting,  but we do know that the alleged  

spy was located in the town of Chino Hills.
The US Department of Justice announced that  

the man in question is 64 year-old Yaoning “Mike” 
Sun, who was arrested last Thursday and charged  

with acting as an illegal agent of China, as well 
as conspiring with another man named Chen Jun.

Chen Jun also called John Chen, 

was sentenced to prison last 
month for acting as an illegal  

agent of the Chinese Communist Party and bribery.

This is the guy who tried to bribe an IRS agent 
to go after Falun Gong practitioners in the US.

If convicted, Sun could face up 
to a decade in prison for acting  

illegally as an agent of a foreign government,  

in addition to another five years for 
conspiring to commit offenses against the US.

So what were these men up to, exactly? 

According to the criminal complaint, in 2022 
and early 2023, Chen was in active communication  

with CCP officials regarding local US 
politicians the CCP could “influence,” 

and the election of someone only referred to as 

“Individual 1.”

It would seem that’s the unnamed 
politician we mentioned earlier.

Chen allegedly told Sun to prepare 
a report on the election, which was  

then sent to Chinese government officials.
Chen also allegedly told those officials  

that Sun and this “Individual 1” are 
part of a “basic team dedicated for us.”

Dang, did he really need to call them 
basic? That seems needlessly petty.

Around a month after that election, Chen set 
up a lunch with Sun and others at a restaurant,  

with Chen telling Chinese officials that it was a  

“core member lunch,” although 
Individual 1 wasn’t present.

Chen also told the CCP officials 
that the gathering was successful,  

with attendees agreeing to create a “US-China 
Friendship Promotional Association.”

Then, in early 2023, he allegedly instructed 
Sun to write another report for CCP officials  

about the both of them “cultivating 
and assisting” Individual 1’s success.

Reminder, whoever this Invidiual 1 is, 
is now an elected US representative.

As that report was being finalized 
in February of last year,  

Sun  sent Chen a proposal to 
combat “anti-China forces”

by marching in a US Independence 
Day Parade in Washington DC.

My guess is they wanted to spy on or 
harass groups critical of the CCP.

While the two were cooperating,  

Sun  allegedly asked Beijing to 
provide them with a budget of $80,000.

But it didn’t stop there!

According to the criminal complaint,

Sun and Chen both discussed a trip to China 
to meet with unspecified “leadership.”

Then in August 2023, Sun and Individual 
1  ended up traveling to China together. 

Totally normal for a US politician. I’m not being 
sarcastic. This kind of thing happens so much,  

it’s basically normal. I didn’t say it was good.

Now the problem is most Americans 
don’t really care about local politics.

They focus more on the big show.

But China cares. Because they understand 
the US system better than most Americans.

You see, while on the federal level, the US 
government is fighting against CCP influence

The US has separation of 
federal and state powers. 

Local governments, from states to 
towns, have a lot of power. Y’know,  

locally. And that’s where CCP spies shine.

According to a new report from the 
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies,

Beijing’s subnational reach 
into the US is actually the  

driving force behind the CCP’s 
influence campaign in the country.

The report notes that while the federal government 
is focused largely on national security issues 

and international trade policy 
, 

state and local governments pay more 
attention to economic development on  

the ground – who has a job and whatnot 
– which is easier for CCP agents to  

manipulate 
.

This is something the CCP admits it’s doing.

State-run Xinhua says “state and local governments 
are more ‘pragmatic’ than their federal  

counterparts, focused on ‘employment and economic 
development’ rather than security concerns.”

That Xinhua report also said that local and 
state governments are actively seeking out  

partnerships with China, and, according 
to the FDD, this attitude is bipartisan. 

Because forget blue and red, the only color 
any politician cares about is green corner box.

In other words, the CCP has 
an entire supply of willing  

collaborators regardless of political affiliation.

China offers investments to local politicians. 

The local politicians can then tout all the 
prosperity they brought to get reelected. 

And China gains more and more control over the  

United States without ever 
firing a single bullet. 

According to the FDD China is doing this 
on a scale unmatched by any other country,  

even the former Soviet Union. 

I don’t know if that makes Joseph McCarthy’s 
ghost corner box feel better or worse.

And because this is happening 
on a state and local level,  

it “can bypass security mechanisms 
that exist at the national level.

Which is exactly what we have seen with 
local politicians throughout the US,  

especially in California.

Like Governor Gavin Newsom’s Beijing 
meeting with Xi Jinping last year,  

at a time when President Biden 
couldn’t get an audience. 

Then there’s San Francisco Mayor 
London Breed’s own visit to Beijing  

to promote post-pandemic tourism to the Bay Area.

Breed: “We were truly successful in our 
trip. We had numerous meetings with  

government officials, with airlines, 
and with business leaders. We held a  

business forum of people who have interest 
in not only doing business in San Francisco,  

but investing in San Francisco.”
Newsom and Breed really want to please Xi.

Who could forget how San Francisco cleaned 
itself up for Xi Jinping’s visit during APEC,  

something that never happened 
for the benefit of the locals. 

This is an invasion. It’s just 
done without the military.

And as the FDD report makes 
clear, “China’s consulates  

also serve as footholds through which to 
disseminate information and influence.

This was why the first Trump Administration 
closed down the Chinese consulate in Houston.

The Chinese Communist Party can use its 
investment promises as well as local events  

sponsored by consulates to influence 
average voters’ opinions of China,  

just as they are with the 
local and state politicians.

Especially on sensitive issues like Taiwan

And the treatment of Falun 
Gong practitioners in the US.

Which Chen Jun himself claimed was his goal.

Of course, when it comes to influence operations,  

the CCP has many cards up its sleeve. 
Hopefully that’s getting banned soon.

But if they can get Americans at the grassroots  

level to support the CCP through 
local politics, all the better.

The American Federal Government’s 
plans to pressure China and halt  

its long reach into the US 
are a welcome step forward,  

and so is the fact that so many of these 
spies are getting caught and prosecuted. 

But, overall, the FDD report notes that US 
policy responses to China lack coordination. 

A more cohesive, integrated approach is needed  

to address this complex issue and 
limit the CCP’s reach in the US. 

And very importantly, the average American 
needs to know the true nature of the CCP. And  

not to toot my own horn, but I think China 
Uncensored plays an important role in that.

Sadly, I’ve noticed YouTube has been 
shadow banning China Uncensored,  

while promoting pro-CCP content.

I need your help. I’m collecting data that I 
can use to present to the media and government.  

Please take five minutes out of your day 
to fill out this survey. The link is below.

It’s about time every American 
stood up to the CCP and fought back.

Once again, I’m Chris 
Chappell. See you next time.