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US woman convicted of spying in China returns home | US woman convicted of spying in China returns home |
(2 days later) | |
An American woman who was arrested on a business trip in China and later convicted of spying has been deported to the US. | An American woman who was arrested on a business trip in China and later convicted of spying has been deported to the US. |
Jeff Gillis said his wife, Phan “Sandy” Phan-Gillis, got on a flight to Los Angeles from the southern city of Guangzhou on Friday evening. The couple planned to stay in LA a few days to visit relatives before returning to their Houston home, he said. | Jeff Gillis said his wife, Phan “Sandy” Phan-Gillis, got on a flight to Los Angeles from the southern city of Guangzhou on Friday evening. The couple planned to stay in LA a few days to visit relatives before returning to their Houston home, he said. |
Phan-Gillis, a US citizen of Chinese descent, had faced an uncertain fate since March 2015, when she disappeared from a group traveling in southern China when about to leave the mainland for the Chinese-ruled, former Portuguese colony of Macau. She was later accused of espionage. | Phan-Gillis, a US citizen of Chinese descent, had faced an uncertain fate since March 2015, when she disappeared from a group traveling in southern China when about to leave the mainland for the Chinese-ruled, former Portuguese colony of Macau. She was later accused of espionage. |
On Tuesday, after being held without trial for two years, Phan-Gillis was sentenced by Chinese authorities to three years in prison. The sentence was seen as an indication that she soon could be allowed to return home. | On Tuesday, after being held without trial for two years, Phan-Gillis was sentenced by Chinese authorities to three years in prison. The sentence was seen as an indication that she soon could be allowed to return home. |
Her lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday he could not reveal details of the case because it involved “state secrets”. | Her lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday he could not reveal details of the case because it involved “state secrets”. |
Jeff Gillis, said China had accused Phan-Gillis of visiting the country twice on spy missions in 1996 and working with the FBI to capture two Chinese spies in the US and turn them into double agents. | Jeff Gillis, said China had accused Phan-Gillis of visiting the country twice on spy missions in 1996 and working with the FBI to capture two Chinese spies in the US and turn them into double agents. |
The deportation comes at a time of warming China-US relations after Donald Trump met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in Florida in early April. | |
In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump called Xi a “good man” and praised him for his efforts to press North Korea to give up its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. | In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump called Xi a “good man” and praised him for his efforts to press North Korea to give up its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. |
An official of the US state department said it was aware of the deportation. | An official of the US state department said it was aware of the deportation. |
“The United States welcomes her home,” said the official, who did not want to be identified by name. | “The United States welcomes her home,” said the official, who did not want to be identified by name. |
Negotiations to secure the release of Phan-Gillis intensified when the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, visited Beijing in March, according to the San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation. | |
“Sandy is overjoyed to be reunited with friends and family, and sends out her thanks to the many people who worked tirelessly for her release,” Gillis said. | “Sandy is overjoyed to be reunited with friends and family, and sends out her thanks to the many people who worked tirelessly for her release,” Gillis said. |
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