Chicago – May 12, 2026
A Southern California mayor has resigned after agreeing to plead guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China, according to federal prosecutors. Eileen Wang, mayor of Arcadia, was accused of promoting pro-Beijing propaganda and working at the direction of Chinese officials.
Federal authorities said the alleged activity involved a fake news website, U.S. News Center, that published material favorable to China and downplayed allegations of human rights abuses. Wang faces a felony charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The plea agreement says Wang and her former fiance, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, operated from late 2020 through 2022 to advance Chinese government interests in the United States. Prosecutors said Wang also reported back on the reach of the content she helped spread.
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in 2022 and later served as mayor on a rotating basis. City officials said the council is expected to appoint a new mayor at its next meeting.
