A U.S. Olympic gold medalist and her family were targeted by Chinese Communist Party spies in a chilling espionage operation that exposed Beijing’s relentless pursuit of dissidents—even on American soil—and raised serious questions about foreign interference and the safety of athletes who dare to defy the CCP’s authoritarian reach.
Story Snapshot
- Alysa Liu won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but her victory follows years of CCP surveillance targeting her family
- Her father Arthur Liu fled China in 1989 after organizing pro-democracy protests following the Tiananmen Square massacre
- Chinese spies impersonated U.S. Olympic officials in 2021 to obtain passport information from the Liu family
- The U.S. Justice Department charged five men with espionage on behalf of China, including surveillance of the Lius in California
- FBI agents provided heightened security for Alysa during the 2022 Beijing Olympics after warning the family of the threat
From Tiananmen Refugee to Olympic Father
Arthur Liu’s journey from hunted activist to proud Olympic father embodies the stark contrast between American freedom and Communist oppression. As a student at Zhongshan University in 1989, Arthur organized protests and hunger strikes after the People’s Liberation Army massacred pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. His activism made him a “most wanted” target of the Chinese government, forcing him to flee by speedboat to Hong Kong before immigrating to the United States. Arthur rebuilt his life in the San Francisco Bay Area, earned a law degree from Hastings College, and raised his daughter with the values of liberty that Communist China sought to crush.
CCP’s Global Espionage Reaches American Athletes
Decades after Arthur’s escape, the Chinese Communist Party’s long arm reached across the Pacific to threaten his family. In October 2021, the FBI warned Arthur of a potential plot targeting his household as Alysa trained for the Beijing Olympics. The following month, a caller impersonating a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee official contacted the family, requesting passport information from both Arthur and Alysa. Arthur immediately recognized the ruse and refused to comply, protecting his daughter from what federal authorities later confirmed was a state-sponsored espionage operation. This brazen attempt to gather intelligence on an American athlete competing for Team USA demonstrates the CCP’s disregard for U.S. sovereignty and individual rights.
Federal Charges Expose Chinese Spy Network
The U.S. Justice Department’s 2022 charges against five men, including Matthew Ziburis, revealed the extent of China’s surveillance apparatus targeting dissidents and their families. Ziburis conducted direct surveillance of the Lius in California’s Bay Area as part of a coordinated effort to intimidate those who speak out against Beijing’s human rights abuses. The federal case underscores a troubling pattern: the Chinese government actively monitors, harasses, and attempts to silence critics living freely in America. Arthur Liu understood the stakes, telling reporters he refused to let the CCP win and praised U.S. authorities for protecting his daughter. The FBI assigned agents to ensure Alysa’s safety during the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she competed under heightened security protocols.
Gold Medal Victory Over Communist Intimidation
Alysa Liu’s 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal in women’s figure skating represents more than athletic excellence—it symbolizes triumph over authoritarian oppression. Reflecting on her victory, the 20-year-old stated that her story matters more than any medal, expressing gratitude for her journey. When first learning of the espionage plot in 2022, Alysa reacted with disbelief, asking if she was on a prank show, though she acknowledged it made sense given her father’s activist history. Arthur’s defiance of Communist tyranny and his daughter’s Olympic success stand as powerful reminders that freedom-loving Americans will not be cowed by foreign threats. This case highlights the need for continued vigilance against CCP espionage operations that threaten U.S. citizens, undermine national security, and attack the fundamental American values of free speech and political dissent.
Sources:
Alysa Liu alleged Chinese spies
Who is Alysa Liu’s dad Arthur?
US Olympian Alysa Liu once targeted by Chinese spies: Here’s what she has to say about it
