China has given a 78-year-old US citizen a life sentence for spying, in a case that could worsen the already strained relations between Beijing and Washington.
John Shing-Wan Leung, who also has permanent residency in Hong Kong, was arrested in April 2021 by China’s counter-intelligence agency in Suzhou, a city in southeastern China. The details of his charges have not been made public.
He was tried and sentenced behind closed doors by a Suzhou court on Monday morning.
The court announced Leung’s full name in both Chinese and English, along with his HKID number, Home Return Permit number, and his US passport number.
He was arrested during a period when China had implemented strict border closures and domestic travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.
These investigations and trials are typically conducted behind closed doors, with limited information released to the public, often encompassing vague allegations of infiltration, espionage, and threats to national security.
Leung’s case comes at a time when the US and China are locked in disputes over trade, technology, human rights and territorial issues.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have reached a historic low due to ongoing disputes over trade, technology, human rights, and China’s assertive stance on territorial claims, particularly concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea.
High-level government visits have been suspended, and US companies are delaying significant investments due to mixed signals from Beijing.
The sentencing coincides with US President Joe Biden’s visit to Hiroshima, Japan, for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, followed by a trip to Papua New Guinea.
The latter is a Pacific island nation where China has been striving to expand its economic, military, and diplomatic influence.
In response to China’s growing presence in the region, the US and its Asia-Pacific partners have increased their regional engagement, offering investments and financial support to counterbalance China’s influence.
A spokesperson for the US embassy in Beijing acknowledged reports of the conviction and sentencing of a US citizen in Suzhou.
The spokesperson emphasized the US Department of State’s commitment to the safety and security of its citizens abroad but refrained from providing further details due to privacy considerations.
When questioned about the case, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment during a regular press briefing on Monday.
The resumption of high-level contacts between the US and China, following a pause triggered by the US shooting down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in February, seems to have provided a glimmer of hope. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi engaged in eight hours of talks in Vienna last week, with both sides characterizing the meeting as “candid, substantive, and constructive.”
On Friday, the US issued a statement condemning the reported sentencing of human rights activist Guo Feixiong, also known as Yang Maodong, to eight years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.” However, China has not officially confirmed the sentencing, and the US State Department stated that its diplomats were barred from attending the trial in southern China. The US urged China to uphold its international commitments, grant its citizens due process, respect human rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, and put an end to arbitrary detentions and exit bans.
The upcoming G7 summit, scheduled for May 19-21, is expected to address the group’s relationship with China, a topic of great significance.
In recent years, there have been several high-profile espionage cases, including the arrest of Chinese-born Australian writer Yang Jun in 2019. Last week, Australia called for the release of another detained national, journalist Cheng Lei, after spending 1,000 days in custody on charges of “supplying state secrets overseas.” In April, a prominent Chinese journalist was formally charged with spying more than a year after being detained while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a Beijing restaurant, as reported by a media rights group.
Source: The Independent Ghana