Recruited since 2014, continuing espionage activities in China
FBI "China is the biggest counterintelligence threat to the US"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A New York City police officer has been arrested on charges of espionage activities for the Chinese government. The officer, known to be of Tibetan descent, is reported to have been involved in illegal surveillance of Chinese residents in New York since 2014 and acted as a liaison between senior officials of the New York Police Department and the Chinese consulate.
On the 21st (local time), the U.S. Department of Justice announced that New York City police officer Baimadazhi Angguang was arrested on charges of acting as an intelligence agent for the Chinese government. He was indicted on charges including making false statements, obstruction of official duties, and fraud. The Department of Justice stated that Angguang, a naturalized American of Tibetan descent, had been working as a spy for China under the direction of the Chinese consulate in New York since 2014. He reportedly connected the Chinese consulate with senior New York police officials, reported on the activities of Chinese residents in New York, and was responsible for monitoring or recruiting Tibetan individuals in New York and across the United States as informants.
Before serving as a New York City police officer, Angguang was also in contact with the Chinese consulate and the People's Liberation Army while serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, although he denied these facts. The Department of Justice stated that if all charges against Angguang are proven, he could face up to 55 years in prison.
The FBI counterintelligence division investigating the charges emphasized, "This case demonstrates that China poses the greatest counterintelligence threat to the United States," adding, "The FBI is committed to preventing hostile foreign governments from infiltrating our agencies and will not tolerate espionage activities."
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