美国一家联邦法院周三(3月19日)判处商人安全忠(An Quanzhong)20个月监禁,罪名是长期充当中国政府的非法代理人,威胁和骚扰美国居民,试图迫使他们返回中国接受审判。这一案件凸显了中国政府近年来加强的跨国镇压行动,也暴露了美中关系中的法律与安全角力。

On Wednesday, March 19, a U.S. federal court sentenced businessman An Quanzhong to 20 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, threatening and harassing U.S. residents to coerce them into returning to China for prosecution. This case highlights China's intensified transnational repression efforts in recent years and exposes the legal and security struggles within U.S.-China relations.

案件背景与判决

Case Background and Sentencing

纽约布鲁克林联邦法院裁定,安全忠自2017年以来,一直在替中国政府实施“猎狐行动”(Operation Fox Hunt),企图恐吓一名美国居民及其家属,并承诺只要该人返回中国,相关指控便可被撤销。这种胁迫行为持续到2022年,直到他在美国被捕。

The U.S. District Court in Brooklyn ruled that since 2017, An Quanzhong had been carrying out "Operation Fox Hunt" on behalf of the Chinese government. He attempted to intimidate a U.S. resident and their family, promising that charges against the individual would be dropped if they returned to China. This coercion persisted until An’s arrest in 2022.

审理此案的法官松本妃代(Kiyo A. Matsumoto)强调,安全忠的行为不仅对受害者构成威胁,也损害了美国的国家安全。她表示,只有通过判刑,才能有效遏止中国政府在美国境内实施的跨国镇压。

Presiding Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto emphasized that An’s actions not only posed a threat to individuals but also jeopardized U.S. national security. She stated that sentencing was necessary to deter China’s transnational repression within the U.S.

中国“猎狐行动”的扩展与争议

Expansion and Controversy of China’s ‘Operation Fox Hunt’

“猎狐行动”是中国政府自2014年起推动的一项全球追逃计划,旨在打击经济犯罪嫌疑人。然而,西方国家和人权组织指责该行动不仅针对经济逃犯,还涉及异议人士、维权人士及其他被中国政府视为威胁的个人。

Launched in 2014, "Operation Fox Hunt" is a global campaign by the Chinese government aimed at cracking down on economic fugitives. However, Western nations and human rights organizations have accused it of targeting not only economic criminals but also dissidents, activists, and other individuals deemed threats by the Chinese government.

据FBI披露,中国政府在实施“猎狐行动”时,常使用非法手段,包括威胁流亡者的家人、胁迫受害者回国,甚至在未通知当地政府的情况下直接在海外绑架目标人物。

The FBI has revealed that China often employs illegal methods in executing "Operation Fox Hunt," such as threatening exiles’ family members, coercing targets into returning, and even abducting individuals abroad without informing local authorities.

安全忠的商业背景与政治利益

An Quanzhong’s Business Background and Political Ties

公开资料显示,安全忠是山东枣庄的商人,创办了安侨集团,一家主要从事房地产开发的企业。他在2014年扩展业务至美国,在纽约皇后区法拉盛投资建设了安侨酒店(Parc Hotel),并于2015年成为枣庄市政协常委。

Public records indicate that An Quanzhong is a businessman from Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, and the founder of Anqiao Group, a real estate development company. In 2014, he expanded his business to the U.S., investing in the Parc Hotel in Flushing, Queens, New York. In 2015, he was appointed as a member of the Zaozhuang City Political Consultative Conference.

专家指出,许多参与“猎狐行动”的商人或私人代理人,往往希望借此提升在中国政府内部的地位,同时利用中国的执法行动获取经济利益。

Experts note that many businessmen or private agents involved in "Operation Fox Hunt" seek to elevate their political standing within the Chinese government while also leveraging China’s law enforcement actions for financial gain.

美国的应对与未来挑战

U.S. Response and Future Challenges

近年来,美国政府加强了对中国跨国镇压行动的打击力度,多个案件涉及中国政府在美境内试图胁迫异见者回国。例如,2020年,美国司法部起诉多名涉嫌参与“猎狐行动”的中国代理人,指控他们非法监视、骚扰和恐吓目标人物。

In recent years, the U.S. government has intensified its crackdown on China’s transnational repression, with multiple cases involving Chinese agents attempting to coerce dissidents into returning to China. For instance, in 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted several individuals linked to "Operation Fox Hunt," accusing them of illegally surveilling, harassing, and intimidating targets.

然而,尽管安全忠被判刑,专家认为,这并不意味着美国已经采取了足够措施来应对中国的跨国镇压行为。华盛顿仍需加强立法和执法,以保护居住在美国的华人社区免受外国政府的非法骚扰。

However, despite An’s sentencing, experts argue that the U.S. has yet to implement sufficient measures to counter China’s transnational repression effectively. Washington still needs to strengthen legislation and law enforcement to protect Chinese communities in the U.S. from foreign government harassment.

结论:美中对抗中的新战场

Conclusion: A New Battleground in U.S.-China Confrontation

安全忠案不仅是美国近年来打击中国跨国镇压的又一案例,也象征着美中关系在法律和国家安全领域的进一步对抗。未来,随着美中竞争的加剧,美国可能会出台更多法律和政策,以防范外国政府在其领土上的非法执法活动。

The case of An Quanzhong is not just another example of the U.S. crackdown on China’s transnational repression; it also symbolizes the growing legal and national security tensions between the two nations. As U.S.-China competition intensifies, Washington is likely to introduce more laws and policies to curb foreign governments' illegal enforcement activities on American soil.