LOS ANGELES (AP) — In April 2024, voters in the Southern California city of Arcadia chose the city’s first all‑Asian council, signalling a major demographic shift in the San Gabriel Valley. Days later, the council was shaken by the admission of former mayor Eileen Wang, who pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal foreign agent for the Chinese government.
Wang’s case, which entered federal court on Friday, continues a saga that has raised alarms among residents about the potential for unfair scrutiny toward the broader Asian‑American community.
Arcadia has grown rapidly over the past twenty years, attracting immigrants from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The population—now roughly 53,000—has a majority Asian demographic, and the city has become one of the largest Taiwanese communities in the United States. As the numbers swelled, the city courted its Asian communities with a “Chinese Beverly Hills” image in the 1970s and beyond, offering an enclave where language barriers were smaller and business opportunities plentiful.
Shock in a Heavily Chinese Community
Wang, born in Chengdu, was elected to the five‑member city council in November 2022 and served as mayor on the city’s rotating schedule. In April she entered a plea agreement, admitting that she published articles praising Beijing on a news website she managed, without the required notification to U.S. authorities.
“We cannot allow this moment to become an excuse for people to paint entire communities with one brush or weaponize ethnicity for political gain,” acting mayor Paul Cheng told reporters. Cheng, a native of Taiwan who moved to the U.S. as a child, said the community should not be demonized because of one person’s actions.
The reaction from residents was swift. Online posts and community meetings saw accusations that other council members had been complicit, and a May 19 meeting called for resignations from the remaining councilors. Cheng himself reported that his name was dropped in a “more names” chant, and that some urged him to “go back to China,” a blatant reminder that he was born in Taiwan.
For many of Arcadia’s residents, the news felt like a slap in the face. “I’ve been called more names, I’ve been told to go back to China even though that’s not where I’m from,” Cheng said. Others, such as Aliza Mo, first thought the headlines were exaggerated. After learning the details, Mo said “I think it would be improper for anyone to be doing something like that.”
Feds Crack Down on Chinese Espionage
Wang’s plea is part of a broader federal push to counteract alleged Chinese espionage. In April, a Manhattan Chinatown case involving a “secret Chinese spy outpost” was truncated by a conviction for acting as an illegal foreign agent. The Department of Justice has since intensified investigations into U.S. politicians who may be influenced by Beijing.
Wang’s former fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, a former campaign treasurer, pleaded guilty to the same charge last year and is now serving a four‑year prison sentence. Sun’s criminal complaint alleges that both he and John Chen—another defector—kept a double life: running a local media outlet while relaying intel and praising Wang as a “new political star” to Chinese officials. They spied on “anti‑China forces” such as Taiwan independence and the Falun Gong as part of their alleged mission.
Sun’s attorney said his client was “misled by a person of trust” and that Wang was “guided by love” toward a wrongful path. Others, like former councilor April Verlato, argue Wang should have stepped down once investigations began. “She was being selfish, staying sworn in as mayor when she should have resigned,” Verlato said, echoing legal counsel Gene Sun’s comments that Wang should have relinquished her council seat.
Beijing Looks to Influence Overseas
According to Wei Li, a professor of Asian Pacific American Studies at Arizona State University, China’s attempts to sway diaspora politics are not surprising. He noted that many countries can pursue influence overseas if they have will and means. The incident underscores a past “fluency in political engagement” in the region, where foreign influence is surveilled in a climate of rising political tension between Beijing and Washington.
Fears of Political Repercussions for Asian Americans
Beyond the humiliation of a guilty plea, the reaction from some arcadians has left a lasting impact. Some fear the city’s history will be tarnished, that the community’s contributions will be discounted, and that future residents or politicians of Asian background will be viewed with suspicion.
“I’m just worried our image has been damaged,” said Ted Tseng, a 52‑year‑old resident who came to Arcadia from Taiwan 40 years ago. Fears of anti‑Asian racism—although overall hate crimes have declined since the COVID‑19 pandemic—continue to linger, according to Li and the city’s community leaders.
Despite these concerns, many residents say their everyday life remains unchanged. Smiles and apologies replaced intense anger in a May 19 city council meeting. “We don’t pay so much attention to politics,” one resident said, highlighting how most people set aside the scandal until it directly affects them.
The case of former mayor Eileen Wang underscores a complex interplay between local politics, foreign influence, and demographic realities that will continue to shape Arcadia’s political landscape for years to come.
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