Latest news with #AsiaPacificEconomicCooperation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Foreign nationals charged amid Trump visa crackdown for scheme to smuggle US military equipment into China
Two foreign nationals have been charged for their role in a scheme to smuggle U.S. military equipment and technology — including missiles — into China, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The charges come as President Donald Trump and his administration have launched multiple efforts to beef up the vetting process for foreigners seeking visas in the U.S., particularly those from China. Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the United Kingdom, were charged with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling and violating the Arms Export Control Act, the Justice Department announced Friday. Prosecutors believe that Cui was working on behalf of the Chinese government, according to court documents. China Targets Us Military Members In Overseas Spy Operations, Former Cia Station Chief Warns Court documents allege that Cui, who is based in China, and Miller, who is a permanent resident in the U.S., sought to procure military equipment including missiles, an air defense radar, drones and cryptographic devices starting in November 2023. The two allegedly coordinated with two other individuals, who, unbeknownst to Cui and Miller, were working on behalf of the FBI, on ways to export the cryptographic device to China. Read On The Fox News App Cui and Miller allegedly discussed how to hide the cryptographic device in a blender, other small electronics or a motor starter — or ship the device to Hong Kong first — to avoid detection. They paid $10,000 as part of a deposit for the cryptographic device, court documents say. Additionally, Cui and Miller allegedly recruited two people to help them conduct a scheme that sought to silence an unnamed U.S. citizen from speaking out against Chinese President Xi Jinping's appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November 2023, court documents say. Specifically, both Cui and Miller allegedly orchestrated a plot to surveil the U.S. citizen, install a tracking device on his or her car, slash the car's tires, and purchase and destroy a pair of statues the U.S. citizen created of Xi and Xi's wife. However, the individuals that Cui and Miller allegedly recruited were actually working in coordination with the FBI, according to court documents. Us Investigating Whether Chinese Citizen Charged With Flying Drone Over Base Committed 'More Serious Offenses' "The defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement Friday. "This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems." Cui and Miller were arrested by Serbian law enforcement officials in April at the request of the U.S. government and are currently detained in Serbia. The Justice Department said it is working with the Serbian government regarding their pending extraditions. If convicted, Cui and Miller face up to five years in a U.S. prison for conspiracy, up to five years for interstate stalking, up to 10 years for smuggling, and up to 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.K.'s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Fox News Digital that it is providing consular assistance to Miller following his arrest and "are in touch with the local authorities and his family." Separately, the State Department has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at bolstering the screening process for various visa applicants seeking to come to the U.S. For example, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in May that the agency was planning to "revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications" for those originating from China and Hong Kong. Illegal Immigrant From China Shipped Weapons To North Korea From California: DojOriginal article source: Foreign nationals charged amid Trump visa crackdown for scheme to smuggle US military equipment into China
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British businessman ‘spied for Beijing and tried to smuggle weapons into China'
A British businessman tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China and attempted to silence critics of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment. John Miller is accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party and faces extradition to the US after his arrest in Serbia. The 63-year-old allegedly referred to Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as 'The Boss' in intercepted phone calls and conducted surveillance on an artist who created statues mocking the country's leader. In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with 43-year-old Chinese national Cui Guanghai, in Belgrade, Serbia, on the orders of the FBI and is now awaiting extradition to the US where he could be jailed for 20 years. Over two and a half years, Mr Miller and Mr Cui allegedly employed a wide range of tactics to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten a Los Angeles resident, known only as 'the victim', who is a public critic of President Xi. 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,' said Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney Miller is a long-time resident of the US, but also owns a £1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Companies House records show Mr Miller has held roles in at least five UK companies, including TEFL Jobs China Ltd, which seemed to facilitate English language teaching jobs, but is now dissolved. A few months before the case began in June 2023, Mr Miller went to China where he met with Chinese government officials in Beijing and Liaoning, a province in north-east China that borders North Korea. He also met someone who works for the governor of Liaoning. During the trip, Mr Cui reportedly introduced Mr Miller to two people, who Mr Miller later referred to as 'big mother------s.' Upon his return, he reportedly boasted that 'the trip couldn't have gone better'. The first incident referred to in the indictment occurred shortly after he returned. In October 2023, Mr Miller and Mr Cui approached two individuals who, unbeknownst to them, were working for the FBI. They enlisted the undercover agents to stop 'the victim' from protesting against Xi's appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit the following month. Mr Miller and Mr Cui allegedly installed tracking devices on 'the victim's' car and paid the undercover agents to slash their tires. Mr Miller and Mr Cui also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by 'the victim'. These depicted President Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, and were potentially going to be displayed at a protest. The 'victim' had previously displayed the statues in Times Square electronic billboards and broadcast the display on X, according to court documents. Initially, Mr Miller had wanted to steal the statues and 'remove the heads' as evidence, but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to 'smash up' them up. In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (£27,100) to convince 'the victim' to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest, after 'the victim' had displayed the statues on a 24-hour live feed online. Beyond the intimidation schemes, Mr Miller also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military. Mr Miller reportedly tried to buy a £37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at £148,000, a £668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a £1.5 million air-defence radar system. He also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information. At one point, the Briton suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong, according to court documents. Several times in Mr Miller's conversations, he mentions a 'boss' or at times a 'big boss' that seems to be the one giving orders. According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Miller's use of the phrase 'boss' 'refer[s] to President Xi' and 'demonstrates [Miller's] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government.' Mr Blanche said: 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.' Bill Essayli, attorney for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because [they] criticised the Chinese government and its president. 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC [People's Republic of China], and targeting him with violence.' If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
British man arrested in the US is accused of spying for China
A British man is facing charges in the US after being accused of spying and smuggling arms for China. John Miller, 63, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been accused of carrying out interstate activities with Cui Guanghai, 43 from China. The US Justice Department confirmed it was trying to extradite the pair from Serbia. Both 'solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People's Republic of China', according to released documents. Miller told a neighbour he often visited the Far East for work and also allegedly referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'The Boss', The Mail on Sunday reported. He and Mr Guanghai are accused of attempting to prevent a protest against Xi's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. The two men allegedly targeted the suspected protester's car by installing a tracker on the vehicle and even slashing its tyres. On a separate occasion, the duo are said to have tried to thwart another protest against the Chinese president by paying £27,010 to two dissenters to renounce their intention to post an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. The pair allegedly paid around £7,400 via wire transfer to a US account for a cryptographic device which they intended to export from the US to China. They reportedly considered several methods to ship the device undetected, including concealing it in a food blender and sending it via Hong Kong. Violation of the Arms Export Control Act – the most serious offence the pair are accused of – carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. If found guilty, Miller could face maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.' US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. More Trending 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and targeting him with violence.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Two shot dead at popular Irish pub in Costa del Sol holiday resort MORE: Why so many young Brits are being 'manipulated' into smuggling drugs MORE: Brothers deny killing commuter as he walked home from tube station 41 years ago
ITV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
British man charged in US with spying for China
A British man, from Tunbridge Wells, has been charged in the US with spying after allegedly trying to smuggle US military technology to China. John Miller, 63, is accused of interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department said the US is seeking to extradite Mr Miller from Serbia, along with his co-accused, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China. Court documents released by the US Attorney's Office said the pair tried to get hold of missiles, air defence radar and drones for unlawful export to China. It said they paid around 10,000 dollars (£7,400) as a deposit for the equipment via a courier in the US and a wire transfer to a US bank account. The two men are said to have discussed ways to export a cryptographic device from the US to China, including concealing the device in a blender, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. The most serious offence they are accused of – violation of the Arms Export Control Act – carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The two men are also said to have been part of a plot to prevent an individual who had been critical of China's President Xi Jinping from protesting his appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, they are accused of coordinating an interstate scheme to conduct surveillance on the victim by installing a tracking device on his car and slashing its tyres. Another offence relates to the spring of this year, when the dissenter announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, the accused are said to have paid two other individuals approximately 36,500 dollars (£27,010) to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. These two individuals were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.'US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (People's Republic of China), and targeting him with violence.' If convicted Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
CNBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Group of 21 economies — including U.S. and China — warns of growth slowdown over trade tensions
An intergovernmental grouping of 21 economies including the United States and China warned Thursday that their collective growth risks a sharp slowdown, as tariff tensions and policy uncertainty weigh on investment and trade. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forecasts growth to drop to 2.6% in 2025, from 3.6% in the prior year. "From tariff hikes and retaliatory measures to the suspension of trade facilitation procedures and the proliferation of non-tariff barriers, we are witnessing an environment that is not conducive to trade," said Carlos Kuriyama, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, at a meeting in South Korea. Kuriyama also said that the uncertainty was weighing on business confidence, leading many firms to delay investments and new product launches until the situation turned "more predictable." The gathering comes at time when U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive trade stance and massive "reciprocal" tariffs have invited retaliatory measures from partners. While the "reciprocal" tariffs have been suspended, the environment remains fraught with uncertainty. Kuriyama noted that restoring confidence in trade requires not only easing tensions, but also actions such as strengthening supply chain resilience and improving transparency of trade rules and procedures. Comments from former and current trade officials to CNBC also echoed this view, emphasizing the importance of predictability in global trade. Former Canadian trade minister Mary Ng told "Squawk Box Asia" that what companies, entrepreneurs, and countries are looking for trade agreements that offer trading partners a certain predictability for doing business with each other. Ng was trade minister when Trump imposed 25% levies on steel and aluminum — U.S. is Canada's largest market for steel — and had sought a formal consultation with the U.S. to address tariff-related issues. "I think that all of us owe it to our economies, to our people, to our businesses, to do our level best, to create the right conditions environments, so that predictability is there, so that the rules are there, so that business can count on that and they can plan on that. That's what they look to governments to do." Malaysian Trade and Investment Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who welcomed the recent de-escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, emphasized on the importance of dialogue between countries. Malaysia and other ASEAN countries believe in a "rules-based multilateral trading system, he told CNBC. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also attended the event and urged that "there should be dialogue with the U.S. to find out why did we get where we are and what can we do about it" She cautioned about U.S.-China tensions, saying that "if the world breaks up into two global trading blocks, we could lose 7% in global GDP in the longer term."
