Washington, Feb 11 (NationPress) A political operative from California has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for functioning as a clandestine agent of the People’s Republic of China while attempting to sway local US politics.

Yaoning “Mike” Sun, aged 65, received a 48-month sentence from United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner of the Central District of California, as reported by the Department of Justice. Sun admitted to one count of acting as an illegal agent for a foreign government in October 2025.

As per the Justice Department, Sun operated under the instructions of Chinese officials from at least 2022 until January 2024, without informing the US Attorney General, which is a legal requirement.

“For several years, Sun fulfilled directives from the Chinese government, manipulated public discourse by spreading Chinese propaganda, and monitored groups in the United States that Beijing deemed a threat as part of an intimidation strategy,” stated Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

“His actions represent a blatant infringement of our national sovereignty. This sentencing underscores our dedication to prosecuting individuals who would extend the authoritarian influence of the Chinese government within the United States,” Eisenberg added.

Sun acted as a campaign advisor for a political candidate referred to in court documents as “Individual 1,” who won a seat on a Southern California city council in November 2022.

“When Americans cast their votes for elected officials, they anticipate these representatives will serve their constituents' interests—not those of a foreign adversary like the Chinese government,” remarked Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “By taking advantage of his role as a campaign advisor, Yaoning Sun sought to destabilize our political processes and democratic institutions for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Federal prosecutors highlighted that Sun “orchestrated” a team to support the election of the candidate and promoted pro-PRC propaganda throughout the United States.

Documents from the court reveal that Sun monitored the then-President of Taiwan during her visit to Southern California in April 2023. He provided real-time updates on her whereabouts to a PRC consular official in Los Angeles and captured photographs of protestors both supporting and opposing her visit, sending these images to the official.

In a report generated in February 2023 for PRC officials, Sun recounted his previous service in the People’s Liberation Army and mentioned, “most notably, during the 2022 US midterm elections, I organized my team to secure a victory for city council” for the candidate he referred to as a “new political star.”

Sun also sought $80,000 from the PRC government to finance a pro-PRC demonstration during a Fourth of July parade in Washington, DC, according to court documents.

Prosecutors indicated that Sun collaborated covertly with John Chen, also known as Chen Jun, described as a “high-ranking member of the PRC intelligence apparatus.” Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent for the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official.