Life imprisonment for espionage
China’s judiciary issues harsh sentences against US citizens
05/15/2023 08:52
A court ruling against a US citizen in China is likely to further strain the relationship between the two countries. A 78-year-old is said to have been guilty of espionage – a fact that China has only recently broadened.
China has sentenced a US citizen to life imprisonment for espionage. According to the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, US passport holder and permanent resident of Hong Kong, John Shing-wan Leung, “was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment with the political rights to life imprisonment were withdrawn”. In addition, Leung’s assets of 500,000 yuan (about 66,000 euros) were confiscated.
The Suzhou authorities took “coercive measures under the law” against the 78-year-old in April 2021, it said. The court did not provide information about the time of Leung’s arrest. Nor did it give details of the allegations. The US Embassy in Beijing initially did not respond to the process.
Such severe penalties are relatively rare for foreign nationals in China. The detention is likely to further strain the already strained relations between Washington and Beijing. In April, China passed an amendment to its anti-espionage law, with Beijing expanding the definition of “espionage” and banning the sharing of data related to national security issues.
In the past few weeks, an anti-espionage campaign against international consulting firms has also gained momentum. In a coordinated effort, investigators searched offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou and other cities.