A California mayor has resigned after admitting she secretly acted as an illegal agent for the Chinese government in a case federal prosecutors say highlights Beijing’s ongoing efforts to influence American politics and public opinion.
Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to acting under the direction and control of officials tied to the People’s Republic of China between 2020 and 2022. Prosecutors say Wang used a Chinese-language media platform operating in the United States to spread pro-Beijing propaganda while presenting it as independent news aimed at Chinese Americans.
Wang, 58, admitted in a plea agreement that she worked alongside her then-fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to run a website called U.S. News Center. The site claimed to offer news and commentary for the Chinese-American community, but investigators say it was effectively directed by Chinese government officials who supplied messaging, talking points, and propaganda for publication.
According to court records, Wang and Sun regularly received instructions from handlers connected to the Chinese government and carried out those directives by posting favorable stories about China and attacking criticism of the communist regime. Prosecutors say they also reported back with screenshots and metrics showing how widely the propaganda pieces were viewed online.
One example detailed in the plea agreement involved a Chinese government contact ordering Wang to publish material denying allegations of genocide and forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. The message reportedly stated, “There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity.” Wang allegedly complied almost immediately, prompting her handler to reply, “So fast, thank you everyone.”
In another exchange cited by prosecutors, Wang reportedly referred to her Chinese contact as “leader” while discussing traffic numbers for propaganda articles.
Federal officials say the operation was part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to shape public discourse inside the United States. Wang’s guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the case should concern Americans because Wang managed to rise into public office while allegedly working on behalf of a foreign government.
“Ms. Wang is just the latest to act as an agent for the PRC, and it should terrify Americans that she was able to rise to the highest levels of local office in her city,” Essayli said after the plea was announced.
Wang had served on the Arcadia City Council after winning an election in 2022. The city’s mayoral role rotates among council members, placing her in a high-profile leadership position in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley.
Her former fiancé, Sun, had already faced prosecution in connection with the same investigation. Federal prosecutors charged him in 2024 with conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said Sun worked for years carrying out assignments from Chinese officials, including spreading propaganda and monitoring groups in the U.S. that China considered hostile.
Investigators believe Chinese officials viewed Wang as a potentially valuable political figure whose career could eventually help advance Beijing’s interests in California politics.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! The Democrat Mayor of Arcadia, CA just pleaded GUILTY to being a CHINESE SPY.
Eileen Wang is a “naturalized US citizen” who came from China, but remained loyal to the CCP.
This is why we have to cut off MORE than just “illegal immigration”
How many MORE of these… pic.twitter.com/lRXGEWqsq1
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 12, 2026
The case comes amid broader concerns from U.S. intelligence and counterintelligence agencies about China’s efforts to influence policymakers, media narratives, and local governments through both covert and public-facing operations. Officials have warned for years that Beijing increasingly relies on community organizations, business relationships, and local political ties to expand its influence inside the United States.
The Wang case also arrives as federal authorities continue examining other alleged China-linked influence efforts across California, including recent raids connected to officials in Lancaster and concerns surrounding Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and its involvement in public transit projects.
For now, Wang’s guilty plea marks one of the clearest admissions yet by a local elected official accused of secretly working on behalf of the Chinese government while serving in American public life.
