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Linda Sun, a former officer in the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and successor Gov. Kathy Hochul, has been indicted for using her position to benefit the Chinese government. She is accused of adding a Chinese government official to private conference calls with New York state officials during the Covid-19 pandemic. In return for shaping government messages to align with Chinese priorities and freezing out Taiwanese officials, Sun and her family received kickbacks, free travel, and other benefits.
U.S. counterintelligence officials have expressed concerns about China’s attempts to spy and exert influence in the U.S., including targeting local and state officials. Sun’s case is seen as a typical example of China’s tactics to infiltrate and manipulate American institutions. Experts believe that Chinese-Americans with connections to China are potential targets for recruitment by the Chinese government due to threats or incentives for their families back home.
The Sun case is part of a broader strategy by China to infiltrate and exert influence at all levels of U.S. governance. Other Chinese individuals living in New York have also been accused of being secret Chinese agents. China has denied the allegations, but experts believe that cases like Sun’s show the level of access that Chinese secret services may have in political circles.
The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center has warned about China’s increasing influence campaign in the U.S., targeting state and local leaders. Sun’s indictment highlights how China seeks to use covert actors to shape political decisions in the U.S. on behalf of Chinese priorities while undermining criticisms of China’s policies. Hochul has called the allegations against Sun “absolutely shocking” and stated that any foreign government’s attempts to infiltrate U.S. government organizations must be addressed.
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