Four individuals have been charged in the United States for visa fraud, accused of concealing their active duty status in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s military force. These charges highlight concerns about the exploitation of American academic institutions and research facilities. The arrests and ongoing investigation underscore the efforts by the U.S. to counter alleged deceptive practices by members of the Chinese military.
The Department of Justice press release detailed the cases, revealing that these individuals allegedly lied on their visa applications to gain entry into the U.S. for research purposes. According to Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, this is “another part of the Chinese Communist Party’s plan to take advantage of our open society and exploit academic institutions.” The FBI has conducted interviews in over 25 cities, indicating a widespread investigation into undeclared affiliations with the Chinese military among visa holders.
Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, John Brown, stated, “Today’s announcement shows the extreme lengths to which the Chinese government has gone to infiltrate and exploit America’s benevolence.” He emphasized the welcome the U.S. extends to international students and researchers, but condemned the alleged abuse of this openness.
Each of the four defendants faces charges of visa fraud, carrying a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The cases against each individual reveal a pattern of alleged deception regarding their PLA ties.
Xin Wang
Xin Wang entered the U.S. in March 2019 on a J1 visa, claiming his purpose was scientific research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). His visa application stated he had previously served as an Associate Professor in the PLA from 2002 to 2016.
Image alt: Xin Wang, one of the individuals charged with visa fraud, whose case revealed alleged misrepresentation of his PLA affiliation.
However, upon arrival at LAX in June 2020, Wang allegedly revealed to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers that he was still actively serving in the PLA as a “Level 9” technician, equivalent to a Major. Court documents indicate that Wang was instructed by his supervisor at a military university lab in China to observe and replicate the UCSF lab setup. He even admitted to his UCSF professor about duplicating some of their work in China. This research at UCSF was partly funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Wang was arrested and indicted in the Northern District of California.
Juan Tang
Juan Tang, a researcher at the University of California at Davis, obtained a J1 visa after applying in October 2019 and entering the U.S. in December 2019. On her visa application, Tang answered “No” to the question about military service.
Image alt: Juan Tang, a researcher charged with visa fraud, pictured in a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) uniform, contradicting her visa application.
Contrary to her statement, Tang is allegedly a uniformed officer in the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). The FBI discovered a photograph of Tang in a chinese people’s liberation army uniform, specifically a PLAAF uniform, and found references to her employment at the Air Force Military Medical University. Despite denying military affiliation during an FBI interview, a second photograph of Tang in a different PLA military uniform was found on seized electronic devices. Tang is currently a fugitive, believed to be harbored at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco.
Chen Song
Chen Song, who entered the U.S. in December 2018 on a J1 visa, stated on her application that she had served in the Chinese military only briefly, from September 2011 to June 2011 (a likely typo in the original document suggesting a very short period), and claimed employment at “Xi Diaoyutai Hospital” as a neurologist researching brain disease at Stanford University.
Image alt: Chen Song, a neurologist indicted for visa fraud, shown in what appears to be a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) uniform, raising questions about her declared affiliations.
However, the affidavit alleges that Song was an active PLA member during her time in the U.S. and that the listed hospital was a front for her true employer, the PLA. Research articles co-authored by Song listed her affiliation with PLA Air Force institutions, including the Air Force General Hospital in Beijing and the Fourth Military Medical University. A Chinese healthcare website further listed her as an attending physician at the PLA Air Force General Hospital, accompanied by a photograph appearing to show Song in a military uniform. Adding to the evidence, deleted files from Song’s hard drive included a letter to the Chinese Consulate in New York admitting her stated employer was a “false front” and that her extension was approved by the PLA Air Force. Song was arrested on July 18.
Kaikai Zhao
Kaikai Zhao, a graduate student in machine learning and AI at Indiana University, applied for an F1 visa in June 2018, answering “No” to prior military service.
Image alt: Kaikai Zhao, a graduate student charged with visa fraud, pictured in a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) uniform, evidence against his claims of no military service.
The complaint states that Zhao served at the National University of Defense Technology, a leading PLA research institution, and attended the Aviation University of Air Force (AUAF), a Chinese military academy similar to the U.S. Air Force Academy. AUAF students are active military members undergoing military training. The FBI also found an online photograph of Zhao in a PLAAF uniform, directly contradicting his visa application statement. Zhao was arrested on July 18.
These cases illustrate a focused effort by U.S. law enforcement to identify and address individuals allegedly concealing their affiliations with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to gain access to American universities and research opportunities. The evidence, including photographs of individuals in chinese people’s liberation army uniforms and recovered documents, suggests a deliberate attempt to operate under false pretenses, raising significant national security concerns and prompting ongoing investigations.
