US Journalist Thomas Pauken II Pleads Guilty to Acting as Chinese Agent

Thomas Pauken II, an American journalist who spent over a decade reporting from Beijing, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to acting as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The plea, entered on Wednesday, confirms Pauken worked at the direction of Chinese intelligence services without notifying the U.S. Attorney General as required by law. Intelligence Operations in Beijing Court documents reveal that Pauken resided in Beijing from 2010 to 2023, during which time he established contact with individuals he knew were affiliated with China’s intelligence apparatus. He admitted to providing these handlers with information regarding U.S. political figures, international policy, and media sentiment. Communication was primarily conducted through encrypted messaging platforms to evade detection. Prosecutors stated that Pauken accepted assignments to write specific articles and provide reports that served the interests of the Chinese government. Despite his awareness of the legal requirement to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) or Section 951 of the U.S. Code, he failed to disclose his relationship with foreign officials. Legal…