Racial backlash erupts online after California mayor admits to being an agent for China

U.S. newsRacial backlash erupts online after California mayor admits to being an agent for ChinaArcadia Mayor Eileen Wang admitted to federal law enforcement that she “secretly served the interests of the Chinese government.”Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleFormer California mayor charged with acting as illegal Chinese agent02:38Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 14, 2026, 4:51 PM EDT / Updated May 14, 2026, 4:53 PM EDTBy Alicia Victoria Lozano and Doha MadaniLOS ANGELES — The resignation of a Southern California mayor who pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China has sparked backlash and reignited fears of anti-Asian discrimination.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Earlier this week, Eileen Wang, 58, admitted to federal law enforcement that she “secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” according to the FBI. She agreed to plead guilty to a single count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and resigned as mayor of Arcadia, a predominantly Asian city in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles.Political figures including Bernadette Breslin, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said the indictment was another example of Chinese-led plans to weaken the United States from within.But racist comments began to appear on social media feeds soon after FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X the case against Wang. Many replies to Patel’s post announcing the charges suggested investigating other prominent Asian American women political figures. Others suggested violent punishment for her.Advocates said they are concerned that this rhetoric is part of a long history of fear and discrimination that has proliferated for generations in regard to Asian communities, especially Chinese immigrants. Experts who spoke to NBC News said Asian people in the U.S. are often treated as perpetual outs...