Betrayal Among Activists: The Tang Dilemma

Yuanjun Tang, a former critic of the Chinese Communist Party, pleaded guilty to spying on fellow Chinese American activists for the Chinese government. Once an advocate for democracy, he secretly gathered information and photographed protests to gain favor with Beijing. Tang faces up to five years in prison.

Yuanjun Tang, a noted dissident from New York's Chinese community, has admitted to operating as a spy for Beijing. Tang, who previously criticized the Chinese Communist Party, pleaded guilty to charges of collecting information on fellow activists at the behest of Chinese intelligence.

Tang's plea highlights a disturbing trend of transnational repression. Federal prosecutors allege that Tang, in exchange for Chinese government approval to visit family, handed over sensitive details of Chinese American dissidents. His arrest follows other high-profile cases scrutinizing China's global attempts to silence critics.

Tang, once involved in the Tiananmen Square protests, later established a pro-democracy group in Flushing, Queens. However, court documents reveal he secretly collaborated with Chinese officials to undermine fellow activists. As he awaits sentencing, Tang's actions cast a shadow over the dissident community in the US.

(With inputs from agencies.)