An executive of Phoenix North America television was arrested last month as part of a Chinese spy ring that obtained defense secrets through a contractor in Los Angeles.
Tai Wang Mak was among four people arrested Oct. 28 following a year-long FBI investigation that found that U.S. defense technology, including naval data, had been passed to China.
Tai is a founding executive of Phoenix’s North America operations. The Hong Kong-based network has close ties to China’s communist party. In the past, the television has echoed Beijing propaganda themes.
Tai is broadcast and engineering director in Los Angeles.
U.S. officials said he is the brother of Chi Mak, alleged ringleader of the Chinese spy ring. Chi reportedly was an electrical engineer for Power Paragon, a subsidiary of defense contractor L3/SPD Technologies/Power Systems Group in Anaheim.
Tai was enroute to China with several coded computer disks that Chi has reportedly obtained from the company when he was arrested.
