Chinese American Scholar Convicted for Espionage in US

Shujun Wang, a Chinese American scholar, was convicted for using his pro-democracy reputation to spy on dissidents for China. Wang, the founder of a pro-democracy group, faced charges of acting as a foreign agent. Despite his defense's claims of innocence, the jury found him guilty, sentencing looming in January.

Shujun Wang, a Chinese American scholar, was convicted on Tuesday for espionage activities against dissidents in the US, while posing as a pro-democracy activist. The federal jury in New York found that Wang used his position to gather and relay critical information to China's Ministry of State Security.

The prosecutors depicted Wang as living a double life for over a decade, gaining the trust of individuals critical of Beijing before betraying them. US attorney Breon Peace highlighted the gravity of the charges, suggesting that the indictment reads like a spy novel but is underpinned by stark realities.

Wang's defense argued that he had no malevolent intent and that his communications were harmless and misinterpreted. Despite these arguments, Wang faces potentially up to 25 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for January 9. Wang's conviction is part of broader US efforts to counteract transnational repression, a practice strongly denied by China.

(With inputs from agencies.)