China jails US man for life over espionage

According to Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, China sentenced a 78-year-old American man to life in jail on spying-related charges.

According to the article, the espionage case may worsen already strained relations with the United States.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who also possesses permanent status in Hong Kong, is facing a case that has not been made public.

In a statement released on Monday, the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou announced that he "was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, and deprived of political rights for life."

In April 2021, Suzhou officials "took compulsory measures according to the law" against Leung, it stated without mentioning when he had been brought into custody.

Leung's residence at the time of his detention was unknown, according to Al-Jazeera.

With the exception of general charges of infiltration, information collecting, and endangering state security, such investigations and trials are conducted behind closed doors.

Nevertheless, foreigners in China don't often encounter such harsh language.

According to a representative of the US embassy in Beijing, they are aware of allegations that a US citizen was recently found guilty and given a sentence in Suzhou.

“The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said.

“Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”

Neither did the administration of Hong Kong, a former British colony that was placed under Chinese control once again in 1997.

No other information regarding the charges was provided in the court release, and sensitive cases frequently undergo closed-door trials in China.

At a routine news briefing on Monday, Wang Wenbin, the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, declined to make any additional comments on the situation.

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