A California mayor’s former fiancé just received a four-year prison sentence for working as an unregistered Chinese spy—and he orchestrated the campaign that put her in office.
Story Snapshot
- Yaoning “Mike” Sun sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China while serving as campaign advisor and fiancé to now-Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang
- Sun helped Wang win her 2022 City Council seat, bringing in donations from sources with ties to the Chinese government and positioning her as a pro-Beijing “new political star”
- Federal prosecutors say Sun worked for years submitting reports to high-level PRC officials, conducting surveillance on Taiwan’s president, and countering Falun Gong and pro-Taiwan independence movements
- Wang was sworn in as mayor on February 3, 2026, just six days before Sun’s sentencing, and claims she was “deceived” by a man she loved
- Wang has not been charged with any crime but faces mounting calls for her resignation amid questions about what she knew
The Spy Who Romanced His Way Into City Hall
Yaoning “Mike” Sun didn’t just advise Eileen Wang’s 2022 Arcadia City Council campaign. He managed it, served as treasurer, and became her fiancé. Federal court documents reveal Sun viewed Wang as an asset to be “cultivated” for advancing pro-Beijing policies within the United States. Campaign records examined by the Los Angeles Times show Sun brought in donations from sources with ties to the Chinese government. Wang won her seat in November 2022, and on February 3, 2026, became mayor of the Southern California city where 60 percent of residents are of Asian descent.
Operating Under Beijing’s Direction
Sun’s espionage activities extended far beyond one political campaign. Federal prosecutors established that he worked for years as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China, submitting reports directly to high-level government officials. His assignments included countering Falun Gong adherents in Southern California, working against pro-Taiwan independence forces, and publishing pro-Beijing propaganda through an online news outlet. In April 2023, Sun conducted real-time surveillance on Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen during her Southern California visit, providing movement updates and photographs to PRC consular officials.
The Intelligence Network Behind the Operation
Sun operated as the “right-hand man” to John Chen, described in federal court documents as a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus who previously met with President Xi Jinping. Chen was sentenced to 20 months in prison in November 2024 for acting as an unregistered PRC agent and bribing an IRS agent in New York. This hierarchical relationship placed Sun within a sophisticated foreign influence network targeting American political institutions at multiple levels. The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division emphasized that Sun exploited his position as campaign advisor to undermine democratic institutions for the Chinese Communist Party’s benefit.
The Mayor’s Dilemma and Credibility Crisis
Wang insists her romantic relationship with Sun ended eight months before federal prosecutors charged him in December 2024. At her mayoral swearing-in, she declared her loyalty solely to the United States and claimed she was “deceived” by a man she loved. Federal court documents, however, refer to her as “Individual 1” and describe her as part of a team “dedicated” to PRC interests. Wang has faced mounting calls for resignation but vows to remain in office, emphasizing she is “not responsible for the action of others.” The question of what she knew and when creates a credibility crisis that facts alone cannot resolve.
What This Case Reveals About Local Vulnerabilities
This case exposes troubling vulnerabilities in local campaign structures that foreign intelligence services can exploit. Unlike federal campaigns with extensive vetting and oversight, local races often rely on volunteers and small-donor networks where backgrounds go unchecked. Sun embedded himself in the San Gabriel Valley’s Chinese community for decades after immigrating in 1996, building credibility and access that made his influence operation nearly invisible. Federal prosecutors emphasized that China poses a major threat to U.S. national security and that detecting and suppressing malign foreign influence campaigns represents a national priority. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner’s 48-month sentence—splitting the difference between prosecution and defense recommendations—suggests courts view such operations seriously while acknowledging mitigating factors.
Convicted Chinese spy tied to Southern California mayor https://t.co/k8h1ggY9gZ
— CBS LA (@CBSLosAngeles) February 18, 2026
The irony remains stark: the foreign agent sits in federal prison while the politician he helped elect now leads the city. Wang’s protestations of innocence may be entirely truthful, yet the damage to public trust persists. Arcadia voters elected a candidate whose campaign was partially orchestrated by a Chinese spy, raising uncomfortable questions about electoral integrity at the local level. Federal authorities continue monitoring for similar operations targeting midterm elections, but the precedent is set. Foreign powers now know that romantic relationships and campaign involvement offer paths to influence American governance, and the consequences for those exploited may be primarily political rather than criminal.
Sources:
Yaoning Sun sentenced as illegal PRC agent in California – Fox LA
Spy who romanced Chinese American California mayor sentenced to prison
