President Joe Biden is facing backlash over his decision to pardon three individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including two convicted of espionage and one linked to child pornography. The move, which coincided with the release of three Americans held in Chinese prisons, has sparked accusations of a quid pro quo.
On November 22, just before Thanksgiving, Biden signed off on the pardons of Xu Yanjun, Ji Chaoqun, and Jin Shanlin. Xu, a former deputy division director for China’s Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security, was the first Chinese intelligence officer extradited to the United States. In 2021, he faced steep penalties for attempting to steal trade secrets from U.S. companies like GE Aviation.
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
Ji, a former U.S. Army Reserve enlistee, had been convicted in 2022 of acting as a foreign agent for China, working alongside Xu to gather sensitive information on American technology firms. Meanwhile, Jin, a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University, was convicted of possessing over 47,000 images of child pornography.
Just five days after the pardons, China released three American citizens: Texas businessman Mark Swidan, imprisoned since 2012 on drug-related charges; Kai Li, held on espionage accusations since 2016; and John Leung, who had been sentenced to life in 2023 for spying.
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
The clemency has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning its timing. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, condemned the decision, citing the growing threat posed by the CCP. “Beijing has continually encroached upon Americans’ sovereignty to spy, intimidate, and harass,” Green stated, pointing to numerous cases of espionage and illicit activities linked to Chinese nationals.
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
Concerns about CCP influence have been growing, particularly after reports of Chinese police stations operating on U.S. soil and allegations that some U.S. officials may be linked to Beijing. On the same day as the pardons, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) warned of Chinese cyber intrusions, stating, “They have access to every single one of our major telecommunications companies.”
The Biden administration’s decision has left critics questioning whether national security was compromised for diplomatic gains.
