Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang Pleads Guilty in China Foreign Agent Case

Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Chinese government, according to U.S. officials. The case has drawn national attention due to allegations that the California city official promoted pro-Beijing propaganda within the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles County.

Wang, 58, resigned from the Arcadia City Council and stepped down as mayor shortly after the federal case became public. She appeared before a federal magistrate judge with the assistance of a Mandarin interpreter, where bond was set at $25,000. Prosecutors said Wang will formally enter her guilty plea at a later hearing.

According to the plea agreement, Wang admitted that between late 2020 and 2022 she worked under the direction of Chinese government officials to spread content favorable to Beijing. Federal investigators said she helped manage a website known as the “U.S. News Center,” which presented itself as a legitimate local news outlet serving the Chinese-American community but allegedly operated as a propaganda platform for China.

Court documents state that Wang received instructions from Chinese officials regarding what articles to publish, including content denying allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region. Prosecutors also revealed text messages in which Wang thanked a Chinese government official for recognizing her work.

The investigation also involved Wang’s associate, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, who was sentenced earlier this year after pleading guilty to acting as an illegal foreign agent for China. Another figure connected to the case, Chinese Communist Party official John Chen, previously received a prison sentence for similar offenses.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said individuals secretly working for foreign governments threaten democratic institutions in the United States. Wang’s attorneys issued a statement saying she regrets her actions and apologizes for her mistakes.

City officials emphasized that the conduct outlined in the federal case ended before Wang officially took office in December 2022 and did not involve city finances or government operations.