Daijiworld Media Network – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, May 15: The resignation of a Southern California mayor after admitting to acting as an illegal foreign agent for China has triggered widespread backlash and renewed concerns over rising anti-Asian discrimination in the United States.
Eileen Wang, former mayor of Arcadia in California’s San Gabriel Valley, resigned after pleading guilty to a federal charge linked to secretly serving the interests of the Chinese government, according to the FBI.
Federal authorities alleged that Wang was involved in promoting propaganda favourable to the People’s Republic of China through a media platform operated along with Yaoning “Mike” Sun, who had earlier pleaded guilty in a related case and is currently serving a prison sentence.
Soon after FBI Director Kash Patel announced the case on social media, racist remarks and anti-Asian comments began surfacing online. Several posts targeted Asian-American political leaders, while others carried inflammatory and abusive language.
Community leaders and advocacy groups expressed concern that the incident was being used to spread broader suspicion against Asian-Americans, particularly people of Chinese origin.
Experts noted that Asian communities in the US have historically faced accusations of disloyalty and espionage, often leading to discrimination and violence. They warned that political rhetoric surrounding China-related investigations could further fuel hate and racial profiling.
US Congresswoman Judy Chu said she was “shocked and disappointed” by the allegations against Wang but cautioned against using the case to stigmatise the larger Asian-American community.
Advocacy organisations also pointed to a rise in anti-Asian hate incidents in recent years, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic and during investigations linked to US-China tensions.
According to reports, Wang became mayor of Arcadia earlier this year after serving on the city council since 2022. Authorities stated that investigations into the case are continuing.