In a major development, a New York resident who was once a key figure in the Chinese pro-democracy movement has been charged with espionage for China. The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Wednesday that Yuanjun Tang faces accusations of working as an agent for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) from 2018 to 2023.

According to the DoJ, Yuanjun Tang allegedly provided the MSS with sensitive information about individuals and groups considered to be threats to China’s interests. This included prominent Chinese democracy activists and dissidents based in the United States. The charges also include making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The 67-year-old Tang is accused of using various communication methods—such as a specific email account, encrypted chats, text messages, and audio and video calls—to transmit information to his handler. He later misled FBI officials by claiming he no longer had access to the email account used for these communications.

Originally from Jilin province in northeastern China, Yuanjun Tang was previously imprisoned for 20 years due to his involvement in the 1989 democracy movement, which led to the violent crackdown at Tiananmen Square. After serving eight years of his sentence, he was released and continued to advocate for democracy. He faced repeated detentions and harassment before seeking asylum in Taiwan in 2002, with support from a Taipei-based rights organization.

Following his asylum grant, Yuanjun Tang moved to the United States, where he eventually became a citizen. He actively engaged with fellow dissidents and led a nonprofit organization focused on promoting democracy in China.

The Chinese embassy in the US has stated that it is not familiar with the details of the case.

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