Linda Sun, a former high-ranking aide to two New York governors, has been charged with spying for the Government of China, raising serious concerns about the influence of foreign entities at the highest levels of state administration. Sun held prominent roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and Deputy Diversity Officer for former Governor Andrew Cuomo. She was arrested alongside her husband, Chris Hu, from their $4 million Long Island home.
According to reports, prosecutors allege that Sun used her position in government to subtly promote the Chinese agenda, including barring Taiwanese representatives from accessing the office of New York’s governor. Furthermore, it has been alleged that New York’s official messaging was aligned with the interests of the Chinese government. In return, Sun and her husband received substantial financial benefits. Hu’s business dealings in China were reportedly assisted by the Chinese government, enabling the couple to acquire luxurious properties and vehicles.
The indictment further details how Sun allegedly made efforts to omit references to China’s human rights abuses against Uyghurs from official communications, such as in a Lunar New Year video requested by Chinese officials in 2021. The Sun-Hu couple has pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bail.
Sun, originally from China, currently holds US citizenship. Following the accusations of misconduct, she was dismissed from Hochul’s administration. Reportedly, Cuomo’s spokesperson attempted to downplay her influence in the office.
India needs to be careful of Chinese influence
While the case highlights a broader need for a federal crackdown on suspected Chinese espionage in the US, it is also a wake-up call for countries like India to scrutinise potential Chinese influence on their government, economy, and administration. The case of Newsclick, where Chinese funds were used to push Beijing’s anti-India agenda, is already a notable example.
The NewsClick Chinese funding case
In August 2023, a New York Times investigation exposed links between American businessman Neville Roy Singham and the Chinese government, revealing that Singham has been funding global media outlets, including India’s NewsClick, to propagate Chinese government narratives. Singham’s network reportedly disguised Chinese propaganda as progressive advocacy across nations like India, Brazil, South Africa, and the US.
Further revelations in the case from the Delhi Police chargesheet indicated that NewsClick employees were paid to incite violence during anti-CAA protests. Witnesses testified that funds from China were used to distribute cash to protesters, purchase firearms, and fuel unrest in Kashmir. The chargesheet also named activist Teesta Setalvad as a recipient of Singham’s funds, allegedly used to revive her portal ‘Sabrang India.’
The chargesheet described an “interoperable triumvirate” involving Singham, Setalvad, and Prabir Purkayastha, NewsClick’s founder, and suggested a coordinated effort to propagate a left-wing extremist agenda. Police raids in 2023 at multiple locations linked to the accused individuals resulted in the arrest of Purkayastha and NewsClick’s HR head under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Purkayastha was, however, later released on bail over a technicality. The investigation into the matter is underway.
OpIndia’s complete coverage of the NewsClick controversy can be checked here.
Chinese funding to Rajiv Gandhi foundation
In October 2022, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), a non-governmental organisation linked with the Gandhi family, had its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence revoked by the Centre for alleged violation of the foreign funding law. Licence of Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) was also cancelled barring both organisations from receiving foreign funding.
According to reports, the decision was made based on investigations conducted by an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) in July 2020. A notice regarding the termination of licence has been sent to the office-bearers of the foundation.
In July 2020, the MHA formed an inter-ministerial committee led by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer to investigate three foundations linked to the Gandhi family, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, for alleged violations of the Money Laundering Act, Income Tax Act, and FCRA.
In 2020, several shocking details about the financial dealings of the RGF were reported. Back then, OpIndia had extensively reported on how the Chinese government donated funds to RGF in 2006 and subsequent years. It is worth noting that Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the trustees have been Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra since 2005.
During UPA1 in 2008, the Congress party and the Communist Party of China (CPC) had signed a deal in Beijing for exchanging high-level information and co-operation between them. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) also provided the two parties with the “opportunity to consult each other on important bilateral, regional and international developments”.
Before the signing of the MoU, the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi had held a long meeting with Xi and other senior leaders of the Communist Party of China to discuss issues of mutual interest.
In 2008, Sonia Gandhi had visited Beijing along with Rahul, daughter Priyanka, son-in-law Robert Vadra and their two children to attend the opening of the Olympic Games. A year before, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had also led a delegation of the Congress party to China.
The 2008 MoU between CCP and Congress came at a time when the Left parties in India had expressed lack of trust in UPA-1 government led by Congress. The India Today report suggests that even as China was aware of the political landscape in India, Xi Jinping went ahead and signed the pact with Congress as CCP wanted deeper ties with Congress, especially the Gandhi.
Indian journalist arrested for spying for China
An Indian journalist, namely Rajeev Sharma was arrested by a special cell of Delhi police on September 14 under the Official Secrets Act for spying for China. His Twitter account was restricted following his arrest. Sharma had reportedly worked with The Tribune, Free Press Journal, Sakaal, etc. and for left-wing publications like The Quint, DailyO, etc. He also ran a YouTube channel. Sharma was also reported to have written for the Global Times which is the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China for many years.
Sharma was accused of passing sensitive information to Chinese intelligence. One Chinese woman and her Nepalese associate also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies. Chinese intelligence tasked the journalist for conveying sensitive information in lieu of large amounts of money. A large number of mobile phones, laptops, and other incriminating/sensitive material were also recovered.
Sitaram Yechury, CPIM and love for Xi Jinping & China
Notably, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has never shied away from praising the Chinese government and its authoritarian Premier Xi Jinping. “As far as the world is concerned, we think the (Chinese Communist Party) Congress’ decisions will be important for strengthening multilateralism in international relations as opposed to unilateralism and imperialism,” he said in 2017. The Indian Communist leader further added, “I think in the future, challenges such as economic development, social harmony and the fight against negative features will be met more effectively in China.”
Yechury had also defended Xi Jinping’s disastrous handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. “The exemplary manner in which the PRC (People’s Republic of China) tackled and contained the Covid pandemic, reopened its society and economy with the requisite precautions and put back the economy on a growth trajectory, is a lesson for the world establishing the superiority of socialism as a system over capitalism,” he had claimed. “The efforts to eliminate inequalities and corruption, raising the quality of life have put PRC on the path for achieving the centennial goal of building a ‘modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious’ by 2049,” Yechury praised Xi’s authoritarianism. As such, it comes as no wonder that the Chinese Communist Party values its ties with the Indian leftist parties.
The recurring cases of Chinese influence in political, media, and civil spheres across various countries, including India, raise a pressing global concern. The cases of Linda Sun in the US and Neville Roy Singham in India illustrate how Chinese entities have infiltrated and manipulated foreign systems under the guise of financial assistance and progressive advocacy.
From high-ranking government officials to influential media platforms, these entities have influenced or attempted to influence every possible sector. For India, the implications are particularly stark. As evidenced by the NewsClick and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation controversies, there is a need for vigilance and scrutiny at every step to safeguard national sovereignty.
