TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Department of Justice on Tuesday said a Chinese American man was sentenced to four years in federal prison for acting as an agent for China, including monitoring former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during her 2023 US visit.
The department identified the man as Sun “Mike” Yaoning, 65, of Chino Hills in California's San Bernardino County, per CNA. Sun's time as an agent included serving as a campaign adviser to a city council candidate in Southern California.
From 2022 through January 2024, Sun knowingly acted in the US as an agent of China and its officials without notifying the US attorney general, as required by law. In October 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of serving as a foreign government’s illegal agent.
Under the direction and control of Chinese government officials, Sun coordinated with individuals in the US to advance China’s interests, according to court documents. This included organizing a group to help a political figure win public office and promoting pro-China propaganda in the US.
During Tsai’s April 2023 visit to Southern California, Sun closely surveilled her movements and reported her activities to Chinese officials. He provided real-time updates to a Chinese consular official stationed in Los Angeles. He sought approval to publish articles about her visit on a website he operated with another person.
Sun also photographed people protesting in support of and opposition to Tsai. He then sent the images to the official.
In February 2023, Sun drafted a report for Chinese officials seeking additional funding and task assignments from the Chinese government. He outlined issues overseas “anti-China forces” were focused on, including opposition to independence for Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang, as well as Falun Gong.
Sun also proposed “using part of our Los Angeles organization’s professional core team” to counter those forces. He requested US$80,000 (NT$2.51 million) from the Chinese government to fund pro-China demonstrations during a Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C.
