President Joe Biden is facing bipartisan criticism after granting clemency to three individuals with connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The controversial decision, made shortly before Thanksgiving, has sparked concerns about potential national security risks.
The individuals pardoned include Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer convicted of attempting to steal trade secrets from American companies, and Ji Chaoqun, a former U.S. Army Reserve member found guilty of espionage for China. Jin Shanlin, the third recipient, was convicted in Texas for possessing tens of thousands of explicit images.
Why the hell would Biden pardon such crimes unless he's a paid puppet of the CCP? https://t.co/2VcD4Z1bxx
— TknItEz 🗽⚖️ (@TknIt3Z) December 14, 2024
Critics argue the timing of the pardons is troubling. Just five days later, China released three Americans from its prisons, including Mark Swidan, who had been detained since 2012, and Kai Li, who had been held on espionage charges since 2016.
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has condemned the decision, citing the CCP’s ongoing efforts to undermine American sovereignty. “The Chinese Communist Party continues to spy, harass, and intimidate Americans while exploiting vulnerabilities in our systems,” Green stated.
In fairness to Corrupt Joe, he had to pardon them or they’d disclose the millions he took in bribes from the CCP.#Trump
Biden Quietly Commuted Sentences Of Chinese Spies https://t.co/wZl7qXE2u5
— Frank (@MegaMAGA7631) December 15, 2024
Two of them had been convicted of espionage for China, while the third had been convicted of possession of child pornography.
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Outrage over Biden's pardon of convicted Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spies https://t.co/L2RghyLpzn— Dogs Chained And Throttled On X (@baileyjer) December 15, 2024
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) warned of broader threats posed by China, highlighting Beijing’s ability to infiltrate U.S. telecommunications networks. “They can listen to our conversations and read our texts,” Rounds said, calling for urgent measures to counter CCP cyber threats.
The controversy has sparked a debate over whether Biden’s decision prioritizes diplomacy at the expense of national security. Critics maintain that granting clemency to convicted spies sends a dangerous message to adversaries while undermining trust in the administration’s ability to safeguard American interests.
