Symbolic of Sino-American relations, the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the Republic of China fly together on flag poles next to each other on a sunny, windy day.
BOSTON, MA (WSAU) – Federal authorities have detained a citizen of the United States who is alleged to have collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party to intimidate and repress political dissenters.
Litang Liang, a resident of Brighton near Boston, Massachusetts, was charged with plotting to act as an agent of a foreign government in court on Tuesday.
Authorities believe Liang began spying for the Chinese Communist Party in or around 2018.
“Litang Liang knowingly acted and caused others to act in the United States as an agent of a foreign government, namely, the People’s Republic of China, without providing prior notification to the United States Attorney General, as required by law,” the U.S. District Court wrote in its indictment of Liang.
According to the U.S. District Court hearing the case, Lian allegedly watched and provided reports to Bejing on people who oppose the Communist Party.
He is also suspected of gathering details on prospective recruits and planning counterprotests during pro-democracy protests.
“Liang communicated with the PRC government officials – knowing them to be PRC government officials – in several ways,” the court wrote in its indictment. “These included telephone calls and messages using the social media application WeChat […] All WeChat communications are stored on servers outside the United States.”
This is the second time the Chinese Communist Party has been caught spying on the U.S. this year after a spy ring was uncovered in New York City back in February.
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