China has sentenced a US citizen to life imprisonment for espionage. The Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou said on Monday that US passport holder and permanent resident of Hong Kong, John Shing-wan Leung, was “found guilty of espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment while losing his political rights”. for life”.
In April 2021, authorities in Suzhou took “coercive measures according to the law” against the 78-year-old, it said. The court has not provided any information about the time of Leung’s arrest or his whereabouts. It also gave no details about the allegations.
Judgment is likely to further strain relationships
The US embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the process but could not comment further “for data protection reasons”. “The security of U.S. citizens at home and abroad” is a top priority for the U.S. State Department.
Such harsh punishments are relatively rare for foreigners in China. The detention is likely to further strain already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.
In April, China passed an amendment to its anti-intelligence law, expanding the definition of “espionage” and prohibiting the disclosure of data the authorities linked to national security issues.
(online/afp)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
