The American mayor accused of working for China
5/18/202627 min
The mayor of the Californian city of Arcadia has agreed to plead guilty to charges she acted as an illegal agent for China. Prosecutors say Eileen Wang was directly co-ordinating with a Chinese official to disseminate news stories downplaying human rights concerns in China, with the aim of trying to influence US government and public opinion.
US authorities say the extent of China’s covert activity and espionage in the United States goes well beyond this case. According to the FBI, Chinese counterintelligence and espionage efforts are a “grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States”.
We speak to Andrew Badger, former CIA case officer and co-author of The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets.
Producers: Viv Jones and Lucy Pawle Executive producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Eileen Wang. Credit: City of Arcadia City Hall/ Reuters
Clips
Showing 10 of 12Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDonald Trump· Soundbite0:00
Thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome, and it really was a magnificent welcome like none other Last week was all about America in China, and today's story on The Global Story is about China in America.
Speaker 20:18
This morning, growing national security concerns after a Democratic mayor in California admitted to secretly working for China.
Asma Khalid· Host0:25
Eileen Wang was the mayor of Arcadia, California. It's a small city just outside of LA. She'd been in the job for only three months when last Monday she abruptly resigned.
Speaker 20:37
Federal prosecutors say former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang pushed pro-Beijing propaganda and worked with a convicted Chinese agent to operate a fake news site in the US. She has resigned from office and could face up to 10 years in prison.
Tristan Redman· Host0:52
A few days later, we got another intriguing story.
Speaker 20:56
We are following some breaking news right now. The man accused of running a secret police precinct in Chinatown was convicted of obstruction of justice.
Asma Khalid· Host1:04
A 64-year-old man in New York, a US citizen, was convicted of running what's been described as a secret Chinese police station.
Speaker 21:13
Prosecutors accuse Lu Jianwang of acting as an unsanctioned agent of the Chinese government. His co-defendant...
Tristan Redman· Host1:23
At least 100 similar stations have been reported across several countries. Rights