US journalist pleads guilty to working as China's agent

Article excerpt

A 50-year-old US journalist pleaded guilty to working as an agent for China, admitting he knowingly collaborated with Chinese government employees for years. Thomas Weir Pauken II's case marks a significant prosecution under American counterintelligence laws. The charges reflect growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over espionage and foreign influence operations. Details of what specific information Pauken allegedly passed to Chinese contacts remain unclear from the guilty plea.