Southern California Mayor Resigns, Agrees to Plead Guilty to Acting as China Agent

A Southern California mayor has resigned and agreed to plead guilty to acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government, according to U.S. federal authorities.

Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California, was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in April 2026 with acting on behalf of Chinese officials without properly disclosing her activities to American authorities, as required under federal law.

Prosecutors allege that Wang helped disseminate pro-China propaganda through a website known as U.S. News Center, which was presented as a community news platform but was allegedly used to promote narratives aligned with Beijing’s interests.

Authorities say the activities took place between 2020 and 2022, before Wang formally assumed office. She reportedly worked alongside associates who had links to Chinese officials and intelligence figures, including individuals already convicted in related cases.

Wang resigned shortly after the case was unsealed and is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in court at a later date. She faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

City officials stressed that the allegations relate to personal conduct and did not involve the use of city funds or resources.

The case adds to growing U.S. concerns over foreign influence operations, particularly involving alleged covert efforts by China to shape public opinion and political discourse within American communities.