US denies Chinese diplomat expelled amid New York spying dispute
The US government has rejected claims that China's consul general in New York was removed from the country. This comes as a controversy unfolds involving a former aide to New York governor Kathy Hochul, who has been accused of working as a clandestine operative for the Chinese government.
According to CNN, Hochul revealed that she informed the Chinese consulate that she wanted Consul General Huang Ping expelled after speaking with the US state department at the urging of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This disclosure took place during an event unrelated to the situation.
"I have mentioned that I want the consul general from the People's Republic of China and the New York mission to be kicked out. I have been told that the consul general is no longer in the New York mission," she stated.
On Wednesday, the spokesperson for the state department, Matthew Miller, seemed to disagree with what the governor said about Ping being kicked out. During a press conference, he mentioned that Ping had not been expelled, but instead finished his time at the consulate in August as part of a normal rotation schedule.
Miller explained that the individual was not expelled, but they do not tolerate foreign interference or covert activities influencing their actions.
The recent firing of a high-ranking Chinese official happened just one day after Linda Sun was accused of breaking the law by not registering as a foreign agent, being involved in money laundering schemes, committing visa fraud, and participating in alien smuggling activities. Sun had previously held the position of deputy chief of staff for Hochul, and had also worked for the former New York governor, Andrew Cuomo.
She spent around 15 years working for the state government until she was dismissed by Hochul following the governor's office uncovering proof of misconduct. Hochul stated that her ex-aide had shown a complete betrayal of the trust of two administrations within the state government.
The husband of Sun, named Chris Hu, was accused of being involved in a conspiracy related to money laundering and bank fraud. They both have denied the charges and are currently free on bond.
Sun had implemented policies supported by the Chinese government during his time working for the state of New York. This included denying access to Taiwanese officials at the governor's office, as alleged by prosecutors. In exchange, Hu supposedly received special treatment for his businesses in China, and the couple was given gifts like "Nanjing-style salted ducks".
