Australian-Chinese Writer Arrested in China Refuses to Plead Guilty to False Charges, Vows to “Fight to the End”
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been allowed a meeting with his lawyer at a detention facility for the first time since being arrested in Guangzhou last January and charged with espionage. Yang told his family that he would fight to the end, refusing to admit a crime he did not commit. He believed his case would soon be brought to the court.
Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a friend of Yang, said Yang’s lawyer was allowed to meet him at a detention facility in Beijing on Thursday. Yang told his family that he is “innocent” and “will fight to the end.” “I will never confess to anything I didn’t do,” Yang said. “I will never plead guilty to any of the accusations. This is political persecution.” The Chinese authorities claimed that he had pleaded guilty, but Yang categorically denied having done so. He also hopes to appear in court to publicly respond to the charges against him while worrying that Beijing is spreading rumours that he has already confessed to the crime.
55-year-old Yang Hengjun was arrested at Guangzhou airport last January and formally charged with suspected espionage in March. Australia has since raised strong objections. His family has appointed Mo Shaoping, the Chinese human rights lawyer who defended Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, to handle Yang’s case. Feng said that under the Chinese judicial system, there were six weeks left to bring Yang’s case to the court, adding that Yang had been questioned for a long time in detention. Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch Australia, said, ”The Chinese system is really geared around forced confession. This is a system where acquittals are very rare. It is dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with very few checks to stop the abuse of evidence.”
Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
#Australia #China #YangHengjun #Espionage #Law #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iJTsTu
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been allowed a meeting with his lawyer at a detention facility for the first time since being arrested in Guangzhou last January and charged with espionage. Yang told his family that he would fight to the end, refusing to admit a crime he did not commit. He believed his case would soon be brought to the court.
Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a friend of Yang, said Yang’s lawyer was allowed to meet him at a detention facility in Beijing on Thursday. Yang told his family that he is “innocent” and “will fight to the end.” “I will never confess to anything I didn’t do,” Yang said. “I will never plead guilty to any of the accusations. This is political persecution.” The Chinese authorities claimed that he had pleaded guilty, but Yang categorically denied having done so. He also hopes to appear in court to publicly respond to the charges against him while worrying that Beijing is spreading rumours that he has already confessed to the crime.
55-year-old Yang Hengjun was arrested at Guangzhou airport last January and formally charged with suspected espionage in March. Australia has since raised strong objections. His family has appointed Mo Shaoping, the Chinese human rights lawyer who defended Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, to handle Yang’s case. Feng said that under the Chinese judicial system, there were six weeks left to bring Yang’s case to the court, adding that Yang had been questioned for a long time in detention. Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch Australia, said, ”The Chinese system is really geared around forced confession. This is a system where acquittals are very rare. It is dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with very few checks to stop the abuse of evidence.”
Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
#Australia #China #YangHengjun #Espionage #Law #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iJTsTu
Tibetan-American Policeman Arrested, Long Suspected of Infiltrating Tibetan Community in New York for China
Tibetan-American New York City Police Officer Baimadajie Angwang was arrested in late September on suspicion of being an agent for the Chinese government. This incident shocked the Tibetan community in New York. A Tibetan said Angwang does not know the Tibetan language well, told numerous lies, and had never even revealed his actual name. As a liaison between the Tibetan community and the law enforcement authorities, Anwang was welcomed by the community at first. As he acted suspiciously, however, the community became alert to his presence.
According to a member of the Tibetan community, Angwang first met them in January last year. Back then, he introduced himself as Ngawang Dhargyal in the Tibetan language, claiming that he had come from the Gyalrong region on the border of Tibet and Sichuan. Angwang had frequently attended their activities since then, sometimes in police uniform and offering counsel to Tibetan teenagers. During a celebration of the Tibetan New Year, he took a photo with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising star in the US House of Representatives.
But the community soon became wary of Angwang as he openly criticised Dorjee Tseten, a member of the Tibet Parliament in Exile as well as the CEO of the Asian division of Students for a Free Tibet, for his pro-Tibetan independence comments at the New Year event. Angwang said Tibetan community organizations should avoid sensitive political topics. He also repeatedly reminded members of the community not to be involved in politics and making such suggestions as removing the snow lion flag of Tibet hung outside the community centre. The members followed the advice as, according to Angwang, they could receive donations from Chinese businesses if they were not involved in political activities.
#US #Tibet #China #NewYork #BaimadajieAngwang #Angwang #NYPD #Politics #Espionage
Source: Apple Daily #Sep29
https://bit.ly/30MyGf0
Tibetan-American New York City Police Officer Baimadajie Angwang was arrested in late September on suspicion of being an agent for the Chinese government. This incident shocked the Tibetan community in New York. A Tibetan said Angwang does not know the Tibetan language well, told numerous lies, and had never even revealed his actual name. As a liaison between the Tibetan community and the law enforcement authorities, Anwang was welcomed by the community at first. As he acted suspiciously, however, the community became alert to his presence.
According to a member of the Tibetan community, Angwang first met them in January last year. Back then, he introduced himself as Ngawang Dhargyal in the Tibetan language, claiming that he had come from the Gyalrong region on the border of Tibet and Sichuan. Angwang had frequently attended their activities since then, sometimes in police uniform and offering counsel to Tibetan teenagers. During a celebration of the Tibetan New Year, he took a photo with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising star in the US House of Representatives.
But the community soon became wary of Angwang as he openly criticised Dorjee Tseten, a member of the Tibet Parliament in Exile as well as the CEO of the Asian division of Students for a Free Tibet, for his pro-Tibetan independence comments at the New Year event. Angwang said Tibetan community organizations should avoid sensitive political topics. He also repeatedly reminded members of the community not to be involved in politics and making such suggestions as removing the snow lion flag of Tibet hung outside the community centre. The members followed the advice as, according to Angwang, they could receive donations from Chinese businesses if they were not involved in political activities.
#US #Tibet #China #NewYork #BaimadajieAngwang #Angwang #NYPD #Politics #Espionage
Source: Apple Daily #Sep29
https://bit.ly/30MyGf0
Tokyo Police to Undergo Reorganization, Stepping Up Measures Against China and North Korea
Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported that the external affairs division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) will undergo reorganization. A new unit will be set up in addition to the three it originally has, while the existing units will be better equipped. According to the report, this is a response to the increase of Chinese and North Korean intelligence activities.
Sources revealed the three existing units specialize in Russian affairs, Asian affairs, and monitoring international extremist groups, respectively. Under the new arrangement, a new unit will split off from the second unit with the former focusing on North Korean affairs and the latter better equipped to respond to threats from China.
The report noted that Chinese espionage, disguised sometimes as commercial activities, has become more active in such fields as frontier technology. Given also that China is in a fierce technological competition with the US, Japan is faced with the need to strengthen its precautionary measures. As for North Korea, Japan considers Pyongyang’s continued development of its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles a significant threat. The Tokyo government concluded that North Korean intelligence activities will intensify in Japan.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Japan #China #NorthKorea #TokyoMetropolitanPoliceDepartment #TMPD #Police #Intelligence #Espionage
https://bit.ly/34uwBGA
Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported that the external affairs division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) will undergo reorganization. A new unit will be set up in addition to the three it originally has, while the existing units will be better equipped. According to the report, this is a response to the increase of Chinese and North Korean intelligence activities.
Sources revealed the three existing units specialize in Russian affairs, Asian affairs, and monitoring international extremist groups, respectively. Under the new arrangement, a new unit will split off from the second unit with the former focusing on North Korean affairs and the latter better equipped to respond to threats from China.
The report noted that Chinese espionage, disguised sometimes as commercial activities, has become more active in such fields as frontier technology. Given also that China is in a fierce technological competition with the US, Japan is faced with the need to strengthen its precautionary measures. As for North Korea, Japan considers Pyongyang’s continued development of its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles a significant threat. The Tokyo government concluded that North Korean intelligence activities will intensify in Japan.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Japan #China #NorthKorea #TokyoMetropolitanPoliceDepartment #TMPD #Police #Intelligence #Espionage
https://bit.ly/34uwBGA
Chinese Agents Sued for Pursuing Dissidents in US, Beijing Mouthpiece Defends Hunt as Lawful Effort Against Corruption
Eight individuals, including seven people of Chinese origin, were charged by the US Department of Justice on 28 October with pursuing and forcing the return of Chinese dissidents in America in an effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” According to the US authorities, the defendants were engaged in locating the homes and whereabouts of their targets and their families. In one case, the target’s elderly father was forcibly taken from China to the US as a threat. In another instance, a note was posted at the target’s residence, saying that the target’s wife and children would be fine as long as he was willing to return to China and serve 10 years in prison.
Following the announcement of the charges, the state-run Chinese tabloid Global Times and its editor-in-chief Hu Xijin claimed that the “foxes” in question were “economic criminals” and that the pursuit was an anti-corruption effort. They criticized the US for coveting the money these criminals had brought with them and having no wish for their return to China. They further claimed that those involved in the operation had always abided by the law and that the prosecution was a “political attack.”
Source: Stand News #Oct29
#US #China #GlobalTimes #HuXijin #Dissident #OperationFoxHunt #Espionage
https://bit.ly/36kfRS3
Eight individuals, including seven people of Chinese origin, were charged by the US Department of Justice on 28 October with pursuing and forcing the return of Chinese dissidents in America in an effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” According to the US authorities, the defendants were engaged in locating the homes and whereabouts of their targets and their families. In one case, the target’s elderly father was forcibly taken from China to the US as a threat. In another instance, a note was posted at the target’s residence, saying that the target’s wife and children would be fine as long as he was willing to return to China and serve 10 years in prison.
Following the announcement of the charges, the state-run Chinese tabloid Global Times and its editor-in-chief Hu Xijin claimed that the “foxes” in question were “economic criminals” and that the pursuit was an anti-corruption effort. They criticized the US for coveting the money these criminals had brought with them and having no wish for their return to China. They further claimed that those involved in the operation had always abided by the law and that the prosecution was a “political attack.”
Source: Stand News #Oct29
#US #China #GlobalTimes #HuXijin #Dissident #OperationFoxHunt #Espionage
https://bit.ly/36kfRS3
Poland Charges Former Huawei Top Executive with Spying for China
Polish authorities formally charged Wang Weijing, former sales director at the Polish branch of the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, with spying for China on Tuesday, 17 November.
The authorities announced last January that they had arrested Wang and former top Polish national security official Piotr Durbajlo for espionage. A spokesperson for Poland’s special services coordinator said on Wednesday, 18 November that an indictment had been filed to the Warsaw district court on Tuesday, accusing the two of espionage against Polish interests.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov19
#Poland #China #Huawei #Espionage
https://bit.ly/3367zN1
Polish authorities formally charged Wang Weijing, former sales director at the Polish branch of the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, with spying for China on Tuesday, 17 November.
The authorities announced last January that they had arrested Wang and former top Polish national security official Piotr Durbajlo for espionage. A spokesperson for Poland’s special services coordinator said on Wednesday, 18 November that an indictment had been filed to the Warsaw district court on Tuesday, accusing the two of espionage against Polish interests.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov19
#Poland #China #Huawei #Espionage
https://bit.ly/3367zN1
Medicine Professor Faces Five Years in Jail for Smuggling Research from US to China
Zheng Guosong, a Chinese American professor at the Ohio State University in the US, has been prosecuted for smuggling research funded by an American subsidy to China. He plead guilty at a court on Thursday, 12 November and faces up to five years in prison. The US Department of Justice accuses him of engaging in “a sophisticated medical research grant fraud”.
Zheng, 58, and his research team received over a fund of over 4.3 million US dollars (about 33 million HK dollars) from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for rheumatism and immunology research while concealing a second fund they had received from China’s National Natural Science Foundation. Zheng admitted that he had lied when applying for the American fund, which he intended to use to support China’s research on rheumatism and immunology. He also admitted that he had made false statements to federal investigators.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov13
#US #China #NIH #OhioStateUniversity #OhioState #OSU #Research #Espionage
https://bit.ly/3qeTdUz
Zheng Guosong, a Chinese American professor at the Ohio State University in the US, has been prosecuted for smuggling research funded by an American subsidy to China. He plead guilty at a court on Thursday, 12 November and faces up to five years in prison. The US Department of Justice accuses him of engaging in “a sophisticated medical research grant fraud”.
Zheng, 58, and his research team received over a fund of over 4.3 million US dollars (about 33 million HK dollars) from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for rheumatism and immunology research while concealing a second fund they had received from China’s National Natural Science Foundation. Zheng admitted that he had lied when applying for the American fund, which he intended to use to support China’s research on rheumatism and immunology. He also admitted that he had made false statements to federal investigators.
Source: Apple Daily #Nov13
#US #China #NIH #OhioStateUniversity #OhioState #OSU #Research #Espionage
https://bit.ly/3qeTdUz
A Chinese Woman Contacted with Many Politicians in the U.S. and Have Close Relationship, Suspected to Collect Political Intelligence and to Sway Their Decision-Making
A year-long investigation by Axios reported that a Chinese woman with a surname Fang suspected of being a Chinese intelligence officer. She grew close to local political powers and conducted political intelligence missions by assisting with campaign fundraising, participating in political gatherings, and having relationships or sex with at least two Midwestern mayors while studying in California between 2011 and 2015.
While studying in California State University East Bay in 2011, Fang served as a president of the school's Chinese Student Association and a president of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) campus chapter. Through political gatherings, civil society conferences, campaign rallies, and campus events, she came into contact with elected officials and other prominent figures, such as incumbent California Statewomen Ro Khanna and Judy Chu, and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for California's district. She also involved in romantic or sexual relationships with at least two mayors for approximately three years. The FBI spotted her having sexual intercourse with elected officials on at least twice.
According to the report, her ultimate target was California U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell. Fang participated in Swalwell's re-election campaign in 2014 and arranged at least one intern in his office. Fang kept interacting with Swalwell several times in several years, until FBI agents alerted him in 2015, after which he severed his ties. She abruptly left the States and returned to China in the same year. However, she did not return to the U.S. nor even contacted her friends in the U.S. or the social networks she has built over the years; Axios inquired her via email and Facebook but had no response.
#US #espionage #China #FBI #Axios #EricSwalwell #SecualRelationship #Spy #Intelligence #CCP
Source: Stand News #Dec09
https://bit.ly/3scLpUk
A year-long investigation by Axios reported that a Chinese woman with a surname Fang suspected of being a Chinese intelligence officer. She grew close to local political powers and conducted political intelligence missions by assisting with campaign fundraising, participating in political gatherings, and having relationships or sex with at least two Midwestern mayors while studying in California between 2011 and 2015.
While studying in California State University East Bay in 2011, Fang served as a president of the school's Chinese Student Association and a president of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) campus chapter. Through political gatherings, civil society conferences, campaign rallies, and campus events, she came into contact with elected officials and other prominent figures, such as incumbent California Statewomen Ro Khanna and Judy Chu, and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for California's district. She also involved in romantic or sexual relationships with at least two mayors for approximately three years. The FBI spotted her having sexual intercourse with elected officials on at least twice.
According to the report, her ultimate target was California U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell. Fang participated in Swalwell's re-election campaign in 2014 and arranged at least one intern in his office. Fang kept interacting with Swalwell several times in several years, until FBI agents alerted him in 2015, after which he severed his ties. She abruptly left the States and returned to China in the same year. However, she did not return to the U.S. nor even contacted her friends in the U.S. or the social networks she has built over the years; Axios inquired her via email and Facebook but had no response.
#US #espionage #China #FBI #Axios #EricSwalwell #SecualRelationship #Spy #Intelligence #CCP
Source: Stand News #Dec09
https://bit.ly/3scLpUk
Singaporean Spies on US for China, Arrested on Return
Dickson Jun Wei Yeo, a Singaporean citizen who admitted to collecting sensitive information about the US for Chinese intelligence agencies and jailed in America, was arrested upon return to Singapore after serving his sentence. In a statement released on 30 December, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said Yeo had been arrested and would be questioned to see if he had engaged in activities that endanger Singapore’s national security.
In their statement, the ISD stressed that the Singaporean government “takes a very serious view on any Singaporean who enters into a clandestine relationship with a foreign government and engages in espionage or subversive activities at the behest of the foreign power”. They said that the authorities would not allow “nationals to be subverted or used by any foreign actors for activities prejudicial to our security and national interests”.
Source: Stand News #Dec30
#Singapore #US #China #NationalSecurity #Espionage
https://bit.ly/2NycukN
Dickson Jun Wei Yeo, a Singaporean citizen who admitted to collecting sensitive information about the US for Chinese intelligence agencies and jailed in America, was arrested upon return to Singapore after serving his sentence. In a statement released on 30 December, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said Yeo had been arrested and would be questioned to see if he had engaged in activities that endanger Singapore’s national security.
In their statement, the ISD stressed that the Singaporean government “takes a very serious view on any Singaporean who enters into a clandestine relationship with a foreign government and engages in espionage or subversive activities at the behest of the foreign power”. They said that the authorities would not allow “nationals to be subverted or used by any foreign actors for activities prejudicial to our security and national interests”.
Source: Stand News #Dec30
#Singapore #US #China #NationalSecurity #Espionage
https://bit.ly/2NycukN
An Espionage War: Afghanistan detains 10 Chinese spies suspected of plotting assassination against Uighur leader, urges China to apologise
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
UK expelled 3 Chinese spies who posed as journalist to cover up their identity as intelligence officer of the China's Ministry of State Security
UK newspaper “The Telegraph” reported on Thursday that Britain has expelled 3 Chinese spies who arrived under journalist visas.
The report cited source from the UK government that the 3 intelligence officers of the Ministry of State Security pretended that they worked for 3 Chinese media entities. They were forcibly repatriate to China after their true identities were uncovered by MI5.
Reuters said that the report has not been verified independently.
Also on Thursday, Ofcom announced to revocation of Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN) license in the UK. CGTN is a media owned by China Central Radio and Television, the China official broadcaster, which has been accused of questionable reporting practice such as repeatedly airing forced confession videos. In year 2019, CGTN has multiple reports on the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, and five of them have been ruled biased by Ofcom.
Source: Stand News #Feb05
https://bit.ly/2N2rZ4y
#Expel #Espionage #Spy #China #MinistryOfStateSecurity #CGTN #ChinaCentralRadioAndTelevision #Ofcom #HongKongAntiExtraditionLawMovement
UK newspaper “The Telegraph” reported on Thursday that Britain has expelled 3 Chinese spies who arrived under journalist visas.
The report cited source from the UK government that the 3 intelligence officers of the Ministry of State Security pretended that they worked for 3 Chinese media entities. They were forcibly repatriate to China after their true identities were uncovered by MI5.
Reuters said that the report has not been verified independently.
Also on Thursday, Ofcom announced to revocation of Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN) license in the UK. CGTN is a media owned by China Central Radio and Television, the China official broadcaster, which has been accused of questionable reporting practice such as repeatedly airing forced confession videos. In year 2019, CGTN has multiple reports on the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, and five of them have been ruled biased by Ofcom.
Source: Stand News #Feb05
https://bit.ly/2N2rZ4y
#Expel #Espionage #Spy #China #MinistryOfStateSecurity #CGTN #ChinaCentralRadioAndTelevision #Ofcom #HongKongAntiExtraditionLawMovement