A political operative from California, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, aged 65, has been given a four-year federal prison term for working as a covert agent of China and influencing local US politics. Sun, who pleaded guilty in October 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, received the sentence from United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner of the Central District of California. The Department of Justice disclosed that Sun, without notifying the US Attorney General as mandated by law, followed directions from Chinese government officials from 2022 to January 2024.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg condemned Sun’s actions, stating that he received and carried out tasks from Chinese government officials, spread Chinese propaganda, and monitored US groups seen as threats to China’s interests. Eisenberg emphasized that Sun’s behavior violated national sovereignty and reflected the US’s determination to prosecute those extending the Chinese government’s authority on American soil. Sun’s involvement included serving as a campaign advisor for an individual elected to a Southern California city council in November 2022.
According to federal prosecutors, Sun led a team to support the candidate’s election and advanced pro-China propaganda within the US. Court documents revealed that Sun surveilled the President of Taiwan during her visit to Southern California in April 2023, providing real-time updates on her movements to a PRC consular official in Los Angeles. Additionally, Sun captured images of both pro and anti-visit protesters and shared them with the official.
Sun’s covert activities extended to requesting $80,000 from the Chinese government to finance a pro-China demonstration during a Fourth of July parade in Washington, DC. Prosecutors disclosed that Sun collaborated discreetly with John Chen, also known as Chen Jun, described as a high-level member of the Chinese intelligence apparatus. Chen had previously pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of China and conspiring to bribe a public official, resulting in a 20-month federal prison sentence in November 2024.
