Chinese Spy Sentenced for Wooing California Politician

Yaoning 'Mike' Sun used a romantic relationship to help elect a city council member friendly to Beijing's interests.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Yaoning 'Mike' Sun, a 65-year-old Chinese spy, was sentenced to four years in prison for using a romantic relationship with Eileen Wang, a California city council member, to help get her elected in 2022 and advance Beijing's interests. Sun served as Wang's campaign adviser and treasurer, and helped steer donations from those with ties to the Chinese government to her campaign.

Why it matters

This case highlights China's efforts to influence local US politics by cultivating relationships with politicians friendly to Beijing's interests. It raises concerns about foreign interference in American elections and the need to protect the integrity of the political process.

The details

According to court documents, Sun was directed by the People's Republic of China to 'orchestrate' Wang's 2022 election victory and then submit detailed reports to Chinese intelligence on how they had successfully 'cultivated' a new 'political star' friendly to the Chinese government. Sun and Wang also had business ventures together, including running a media site called US News Center.

  • In 2022, Sun helped get Eileen Wang elected to the Arcadia City Council.
  • In April 2023, Sun closely monitored the movements of then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her visit to Southern California and reported directly to PRC consular officials.
  • In October 2025, Sun pleaded guilty to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
  • In 2026, Sun was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the scheme.

The players

Yaoning 'Mike' Sun

A 65-year-old Chinese spy who pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

Eileen Wang

A California city council member who was elected in 2022 with the help of Sun, who served as her campaign adviser and treasurer.

John Chen (aka Chen Jun)

Sun's co-conspirator, a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus who was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2024 for acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

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What they’re saying

“Federal law enforcement will not allow hostile foreign nations to infiltrate the governance of our nation's political bodies. The relentlessness of PRC intelligence operations in our country must be met by equal relentlessness on our part to secure, protect, and defend the United States.”

— Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney (Department of Justice)

“When Americans vote for elected officials, they expect them to represent the interests of their constituents—not those of a foreign adversary like the Chinese government. By exploiting his position as a campaign advisor, Yaoning Sun attempted to undermine our political processes and democratic institutions for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party.”

— Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director, FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division (Department of Justice)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Yaoning 'Mike' Sun out on bail pending his appeal.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of foreign interference in American elections, as China and other adversaries seek to influence local politics by cultivating relationships with friendly politicians. It underscores the need for vigilance and robust safeguards to protect the integrity of the democratic process.