Arcadia Mayor Admits Acting As Chinese Agent In Stunning Federal Plea Deal
Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang resigned from office after admitting in federal court that she acted as an illegal agent for the Chinese government while helping spread propaganda through a fake news website operated alongside her former fiancé.
Wang, 58, pleaded guilty Monday in Los Angeles to acting under the direction and control of officials tied to the People’s Republic of China between 2020 and 2022, according to federal court documents.
The California politician acknowledged working with her then-fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to run a website called “U.S. News Center,” which portrayed itself as an independent news outlet serving Chinese Americans.
Prosecutors say the website was actually part of a coordinated propaganda operation directed by Chinese government handlers.
According to the plea agreement, Wang and Sun received instructions from Chinese officials about which articles to publish and then sent screenshots and traffic data back to their contacts to demonstrate how many people had viewed the content.
In one example outlined in court filings, Wang’s handler instructed her to publish messaging denying allegations of genocide and forced labor involving Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
“There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity,” the propaganda message stated, according to the plea agreement.
After Wang published the material, her handler allegedly praised the speed of the post, prompting Wang to respond, “Thank you leader.”
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 and later rotated into the mayor’s position under the city’s governing system.
Federal prosecutors say Chinese officials hoped to elevate Wang politically so she could eventually influence policy and decision-making in California.
US Attorney Bill Essayli said the case highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese influence operations targeting American institutions and local governments.
“Ms. Wang is just the latest to act as an agent for the PRC and it should terrify Americans that she was able to rise to the highest levels of local office in her city,” Essayli said.
Wang faces up to 10 years in federal prison under the plea agreement.
Her former fiancé, Sun, was charged in 2024 with conspiracy and acting as an illegal foreign agent. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said Sun spent years carrying out assignments for Chinese officials while disseminating propaganda and monitoring groups viewed by Beijing as threats.
Wang previously attempted to distance herself from Sun after the criminal investigation became public, insisting in 2025 that she was “not responsible for the action of others.”
The case comes amid growing scrutiny over alleged Chinese influence operations in the United States.
Federal authorities and congressional investigators have repeatedly warned that China has attempted to shape US politics, public discourse and policymaking through propaganda campaigns, covert lobbying and intelligence operations.
The scandal also revived attention around previous allegations involving former California Congressman Eric Swalwell and alleged Chinese spy Christine Fang, who volunteered on his political campaigns before fleeing the United States during a federal investigation.
Federal agents have also recently investigated alleged ties between local California officials and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD amid concerns over potential surveillance and influence operations tied to public infrastructure projects.