Asian Americans fear backlash after charges against governor’s aide

When Russell Jeung learned this week that a former Chinese-American adviser to the governor of New York had been charged with acting as an agent of Beijing, he was dismayed. His concern echoed that of others who feared collateral damage: that this could spark a new wave of prejudice against the Asian-American Pacific Islander community.

“I’m devastated. I don’t know how to describe it better. It’s what racial minorities feel when a stereotype is realized,” said Jeung, a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate.

“Here is another real-life example of an old ‘yellow peril’ stereotype. This reinforces the view that society at large has of Chinese-Americans as suspicious, potential spies and disloyal.”

Chris Hu, her husband and co-defendant, was charged with money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, prosecutors said.