Two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, from China, and John Miller, 63, a permanent resident of the U.S. from the United Kingdom, have been indicted on multiple federal charges related to alleged harassment and targeting of a Los Angeles-based artist critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced these charges on Friday, detailing how the pair reportedly conspired to intimidate the artist for his outspoken opposition to Xi and the People’s Republic of China.
According to prosecutors, the campaign of harassment began in October 2023 as Cui and Miller sought to disrupt the artist’s protests during Xi’s attendance at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco that November.
Federal authorities have revealed that the alleged victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, has a history of voicing criticism against Xi and his administration’s policies.
In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, prosecutors claim Cui and Miller hired two individuals in the U.S. to stalk the artist, which included actions such as placing a tracking device on his car and slashing his tires.
The defendants further allegedly attempted to purchase and destroy two provocative statues created by the artist. These statues depict Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, in an unflattering light, showcasing them bare-chested and kneeling with their hands bound behind their backs.
These sculptures had also garnered attention after being displayed on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square earlier in 2023.
Documentation filed in court indicates a similar intimidation effort occurred in spring 2025, aimed at preventing the artist from broadcasting new statues of Xi and Peng.
Significantly, Cui and Miller were reportedly unaware that the two individuals they enlisted were, in fact, FBI operatives.
In addition to the stalking charges, the federal indictment highlights plans by Miller and Cui to procure sensitive U.S. defense items, including missiles, air defense systems, drones, and cryptographic devices, for unlawful export to China.
Prosecutors allege that they discussed various methods to smuggle these devices, including hiding them in household appliances or electronics before shipping them to Hong Kong.
Court papers detail a transaction in which Cui and Miller allegedly made a nearly $10,000 deposit for one of the cryptographic devices through a courier in the U.S. and a wire transfer to a U.S. bank account.
If convicted, both defendants could face significant prison sentences: up to five years for conspiracy and interstate stalking, up to 20 years for violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and potentially ten years for smuggling.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a statement emphasizing the seriousness of the charges.
He characterized the actions of Cui and Miller as a blatant assault on U.S. national security and democratic values.
Blanche reiterated the Justice Department’s commitment to countering foreign repression on U.S. soil and protecting the integrity of the nation’s defense systems.
This case underscores the lengths to which individuals may go to silence dissent in a democratic society and highlights the ongoing challenges posed by foreign interference in U.S. affairs.
image source from：https://heysocal.com/2025/05/31/2-charged-with-stalking-la-based-critic-of-chinese-president-xi/
