Shujun Wang, who previously taught at universities in China, began his trial in Brooklyn on charges that he operated as an agent for the Chinese government. Federal prosecutors accuse him of exploiting his position within U.S. communities advocating for democracy in order to gather intelligence on activists opposed to the Chinese government, specifically sharing this information with members of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).

Having emigrated to the United States in 1994, Wang was arrested in March 2022 and has pleaded not guilty to four serious charges, including acting as a foreign agent without the proper notification to U.S. authorities. Prosecutors assert that his alleged activities occurred between 2005 and 2022.

The Department of Justice has intensified efforts against what it describes as "transnational repression" targeting U.S. citizens and residents who advocate against oppressive regimes, including China and Iran. This term encapsulates a range of actions taken against activists, from surveillance to intimidation tactics and even attempts at forced repatriation.

Wang, now in his mid-70s, could face a sentence of up to 25 years if the jury finds him guilty of the charges against him. Select jury members began the selection process in front of U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin in federal court. Prosecutors indicate that Wang was directed to monitor various activist groups, including those advocating for pro-democracy efforts in Hong Kong, Taiwanese independence, and the rights of Uyghur and Tibetan populations.

In his defense, Wang's attorneys have argued that his interactions with Chinese officials were aimed at undermining the government's power by promoting Western political ideologies, claiming that the FBI misconstrued his intentions. Additionally, U.S. prosecutors have also indicted four Chinese intelligence officers believed to be handling Wang, who are currently at large in China.