2 Arrested in Alleged Scheme Targeting Critic of China’s Leader

Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Serbia on charges of targeting a Los Angeles artist who criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping, revealing an alleged international plot that involved the Chinese government and FBI undercover agents.

Key Takeaways

Chinese national Cui Guanghai and British citizen John Miller were arrested in Serbia at the US’s request for allegedly orchestrating harassment against a Los Angeles artist critical of Xi Jinping.
The suspects allegedly hired individuals (who were actually FBI agents) to surveil the victim, damage his property, and destroy statues depicting Xi Jinping.
Court documents indicate Cui was acting “on behalf of the PRC government” with Miller serving as an intermediary to pass tasks to third parties.
The plot allegedly began in October 2023 to prevent the artist from protesting during Xi’s visit to the APEC summit in San Francisco and continued into 2025.
Both suspects face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and interstate stalking charges as the US seeks their extradition.

Foreign Operatives Arrested in Serbia

Serbian authorities apprehended Cui Guanghai, a Chinese national, and John Miller, a British citizen, on April 24 following a formal extradition request from the United States. The two men are accused of orchestrating a campaign of harassment and intimidation against a Los Angeles artist who created and displayed statues critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Federal prosecutors allege that Cui was operating as an agent of the Chinese government, using Miller as an intermediary to coordinate surveillance and property damage targeting the artist’s work and personal belongings.

Two foreign nationals were arrested on April 24 in Serbia at the request of the U.S. government for allegedly hiring people to harass, intimidate, and threaten a Los Angeles resident who had publicly criticized Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Cui Guanghai, 43, of…

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) April 28, 2025

Operation to Silence Criticism

According to court documents, the operation began in October 2023 with the specific goal of preventing the artist from protesting during Xi Jinping’s visit to the APEC summit in San Francisco. The suspects allegedly instructed their hired help to conduct surveillance on the victim, install a tracking device on the artist’s vehicle, slash the car’s tires, and destroy statues depicting Xi Jinping. What Cui and Miller didn’t realize was that the individuals they hired were actually an undercover FBI agent and a confidential FBI source.

Extensive Payments and Continued Threats

The scheme allegedly continued into 2025, when the artist announced plans to release a video featuring new statues of President Xi and his wife. The Justice Department reports that Cui and Miller paid approximately $36,500 to the undercover operatives to prevent the display of the statues critical of Xi. Court documents also revealed that Miller had traveled to China and met with officials there, later claiming he received a promotion following these meetings.

Broader Influence Operations

The case extends beyond targeting a single artist. Miller allegedly organized staged protests in the United States, including demonstrations against Taiwan’s president during a visit in April 2023. The FBI’s confidential source reportedly hired actors to pose as protesters, with the demonstrations subsequently recorded and shared online to create the impression of grassroots opposition. These activities suggest a broader pattern of influence operations targeting political expression on American soil.

Legal Consequences and International Implications

Both Cui and Miller face serious legal consequences if extradited to the United States. They have been charged with conspiracy and interstate stalking, which could result in up to five years in federal prison. The case highlights growing concerns about foreign influence operations on American soil and raises questions about the reach of foreign governments in attempting to silence critics living abroad.