Li Ping, 59 and a U.S. citizen, works in the telecommunications sector. He has been a “cooperative agent” for the Chinese intelligence services for over 13 years, according to the indictment.
Li Ping, a U.S. citizen originally from China and currently resides in Wesley Chapel, Fla., in a mugshot in Largo, Fla., on July 20, 2024. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Under requests from a Chinese Ministry of State Security officer in Wuhan, Li sent information concerning Chinese dissidents, pro-democracy acvitists, U.S. government, and the spiritual group Falun Gong, which has faced continued suppression in China that includes torture, long-term detention, and forced organ harvesting.
In August 2012, he emailed the officer the name and biographical information of a Falun Gong practitioner in St. Petersburg, Florida. In April 2013, he sent the officer details about two Israeli authors who had written a book concerning Falun Gong, the indictment said.
He also allegedly shared information regarding the electronic surveillance capabilities of the U.S. government and operations of U.S. nonprofits, and created a training instruction plan for the officer in 2017.
The indictment said the officer twice asked him to give information about his employers, a “major U.S. telecommunications company” in March 2015, regarding its new branch in China and in March 2022, cybersecurity training materials from his new employer, an international information technology company.
Falun Gong practitioners are “of particular interest” to Chinese intelligence services “because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the CCP,” the indictment states.
Li was arrested on July 20 and released two days later after his court appearance.
The timeline of his arrest coincides with the 25th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Around July 20, officials from 15 countries issued supportive statements calling for Beijing to end the campaign and release the detained Falun Gong practitioners.
—Eva Fu
BIDEN, HARRIS MEET WITH NETANYAHU
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris each hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a closed-door meeting on Thursday, as they juggle peace talks in the Gaza conflict and a shifting political landscape.
The Biden administration highlighted a list of priorities they hoped to discuss with Netanyahu following his historic fourth address to Congress on Wednesday. High on that list is a deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip after more than nine months of fighting.
The Biden administration has repeatedly signaled progress on a deal to end the war and win the release of hostages taken on Oct. 7. Biden said on July 12 that Israel and Hamas had both committed to a framework for negotiations, but those talks got no mention in Netanyahu’s highly-anticipated Wednesday speech.
Despite getting no play in Netanyahu’s speech, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration still believes the Israeli leader is committed to the peace framework.
“Netanyahu has been working with us to try to get that deal over the finish line,” Kirby said Thursday. “There’s still some gaps that remain and we’re going to be talking to the Prime Minister today about closing those gaps.”
The press were granted a brief window to see Netanyahu and Biden together before they took their discussion behind closed doors. In that narrow press window, the Israeli leader credited Biden with “50 years of support for the state of Israel” and said he looked forward to their Thursday discussion and their work together in Biden’s final months as president.
It remains to be seen where things will stand once Biden leaves the White House.
Harris missed Netanyahu’s Wednesday speech for stops in Indiana and Texas as she shifts into campaign mode. The White House shared few insights into how Harris expected to steer her Thursday meet with Netanyahu.
Harris’ most prominent 2024 opponent, former President Donald Trump, is set also set to meet with Netanyahu. Trump plans to host the Israeli leader at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday.
—Ryan Morgan
BOOKMARKS
Israeli forces raided Gaza just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to address both chambers of Congress Wednesday. The Israeli military reported it had made progress as a result, but peace talks between Israel and Hamas have now been delayed till next week.
President Joe Biden said on July 24 he plans to push Supreme Court “reform” during the remaining six months of his presidency. Possible changes could include expanding the number of justices, or imposing term limits.
President Donald Trump’s campaign has filed an FEC lawsuit to block Vice President Kamala Harris from using more than $95 million in campaign funds raised while President Joe Biden was the Democrat nominee. His lawyers allege that the transfer of funds from President Biden’s campaign to those of Ms. Harris actually constitute a “campaign contribution,” and should therefore be capped at $2,000.
A fishing vessel sank near the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic on Wednesday, claiming nine men’s lives and leaving four more missing. Fourteen were saved in life rafts, and rescue helicopters were able to sight several others drifting at sea, but lost sight of them after their efforts were temporarily thwarted by severe weather.
The bodies of five Israeli hostages, taken in Hamas’ October 7 attack, were recovered on Wednesday by the IDF. Talks to secure a cease-fire and obtain the release of more hostages are expected to resume next week.
—Stacy Robinson
