Federal prosecutors in New York unsealed charges last month against two Chinese operatives accused of running a shadowy network to spy on and influence Americans. The case, linked to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), shows Beijing’s decade-long effort to control narratives among its diaspora. The FBI says the agents relied on a mix of threats, cash, and propaganda to pressure expats into silence or compliance with Beijing’s policies abroad. One operative, Feng He, worked under diplomatic cover in New York, while the other operated out of China. Neither responded to requests for comment.

China’s playbook in America

The two cases follow a pattern seen in at least a dozen similar prosecutions since 2015. Prosecutors say the operatives targeted Chinese-American communities, student groups, and business networks, often using WeChat and encrypted apps to recruit informants. A 2020 indictment in Texas accused another MSS-linked ring of harassing a US citizen who criticized Beijing’s policies on social media. The FBI’s Houston field office later warned that such tactics are part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent among expats. In one Florida case, an agent allegedly threatened a US-based journalist’s family in China to stop critical reporting.

Experts say the methods mirror China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), which funds cultural groups and media outlets abroad to push Beijing’s agenda. A 2023 report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found UFWD spent $7 billion globally since 2017 to influence foreign politics. The FBI’s counterintelligence chief, Alan Kohler, told Congress in 2022 that China’s overseas influence operations are now a top threat, ranking above Russian espionage in some regions.

The human cost

The arrests have left families divided and communities fearful. One Chinese-American activist in California told the New York Times that after speaking against Beijing at a rally, they found their relatives in China facing extra scrutiny from local police. Another expat in Seattle said an anonymous caller warned their employer about their “unpatriotic” social media posts. The FBI’s San Francisco office confirmed it’s seen a 40% jump in complaints from Asian-American groups since 2020.

Prosecutors say the operatives didn’t just target activists. They also tried to sway US businesses with ties to China, pressuring them to avoid supporting Taiwanese independence or Tibetan rights. A 2021 case in New Jersey involved a Chinese national who allegedly paid a US consultant to lobby against a congressional bill condemning China’s human rights record. The consultant later cooperated with the FBI and wore a wire to record meetings with the Chinese agent.

What’s next for Beijing’s networks

The recent cases come as Beijing ramps up efforts to tighten control over its diaspora ahead of the 2024 elections in several countries. In Canada, a 2023 report accused China of pressuring voters of Chinese descent to back pro-Beijing candidates. Meanwhile, the US is pushing allies to crack down on UFWD-linked groups. The State Department’s 2023 report on international religious freedom called out China for using “coercive tactics” against overseas Chinese communities. The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division has opened at least 50 new investigations into Chinese influence operations this year alone.

For expats, the message is clear: Beijing’s reach extends far beyond its borders. The FBI’s recent arrests are just the tip of a larger effort to silence critics and shape global narratives. The question now is whether US authorities can dismantle these networks before the 2024 election cycle amplifies Beijing’s interference.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: BBC News
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 23:15 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #bbc · #world-news · #international · #sports · #nfl · #american-football

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A China está operando uma sofisticada rede de espionagem nos Estados Unidos, segundo denúncias do FBI, que acusa autoridades chinesas de recrutar cidadãos americanos com origens chinesas para espionar em favor de Pequim. Em duas ações judiciais recentes, as autoridades americanas revelaram como a polícia secreta chinesa e a máquina de propaganda do Partido Comunista vêm atuando há mais de uma década para influenciar e monitorar a diáspora chinesa no exterior.

O caso ganha relevância no Brasil, onde vivem cerca de 300 mil descendentes de chineses, muitos deles em comunidades organizadas, como no bairro da Liberdade, em São Paulo. A estratégia chinesa de usar expatriados como “agentes de influência” preocupa não só os EUA, mas também outros países com grandes comunidades chinesas, incluindo o Brasil. A operação, que envolve chantagem, subornos e até sequestros simbólicos de familiares na China, mostra como Pequim busca silenciar críticas e ampliar seu controle sobre seus cidadãos, mesmo fora de suas fronteiras. Para o Brasil, o episódio reforça a necessidade de vigilância sobre possíveis interferências estrangeiras em territórios nacionais, especialmente em setores estratégicos.

O fechamento do caso ainda depende de investigações mais profundas, mas a revelação já serve de alerta para governos e comunidades estrangeiras sobre os riscos da espionagem transnacional.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) ha desarticulado una red de espionaje china que durante una década ha espiado y manipulado a ciudadanos estadounidenses, especialmente a la diáspora china, utilizando tácticas de policía secreta y propaganda. Las autoridades revelaron dos casos federales que exponen la estrategia sistemática del régimen de Pekín para influir en la sociedad civil y recopilar información sensible.

Según los informes, los agentes chinos recurrieron a métodos coercitivos contra disidentes y migrantes, incluyendo amenazas a familiares en China para doblegar a sus víctimas. Para los hispanohablantes en Estados Unidos, este episodio subraya la creciente presión que ejerce Pekín sobre las comunidades emigrantes, un patrón que ya se ha documentado en países como España, donde también se han registrado campañas de desinformación y presión a críticos del gobierno chino. La revelación pone en alerta a las diásporas globales sobre los riesgos de ser objeto de campañas de influencia extranjera, especialmente en un contexto de tensiones geopolíticas cada vez más agudas.