Politics · India Bureau
US Journalist Sentenced to Two Years for Acting as Chinese Agent
An American journalist has been convicted of acting as an undisclosed agent for China's intelligence service. Thomas Weir Pauken II, 51, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges that he assisted Chinese government operations.
LSN India ·
The US Justice Department announced the sentencing of Thomas Weir Pauken II on Tuesday, marking the latest in a series of prosecutions involving individuals accused of working covertly for Beijing without proper disclosure to American authorities.
Pauken, arrested in February, pleaded guilty earlier this year and is not expected to appeal his conviction, according to his defence attorney Charles Burnham. In addition to his prison term, he has been sentenced to 36 months of supervised release and is prohibited from international travel.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg characterized Pauken's actions as a betrayal of his country, stating that the journalist supported operations conducted by China's Ministry of State Security, including recruitment efforts and the gathering of sensitive information from potential intelligence assets.
The case reflects escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over allegations of Chinese intelligence activities on American soil. Federal authorities have intensified prosecutions of individuals accused of undisclosed work on behalf of the Chinese government, with security officials expressing concern over foreign intelligence operations targeting the United States.