Now, he’s stepping forward to become a rare whistleblower on the Chinese system, exposing closely guarded secrets about how China spies on its citizens at home and abroad – including in the US. “America on the one hand repeatedly disseminates false information about so-called Chinese spies, and yet on the other hand openly declares it wants to launch large scale espionage activities against China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in January 2024. As a Hui Muslim, a mostly Chinese-speaking minority, he was tasked with surveilling religious groups for much of his career, including Christians and his fellow Muslims. When this policy was later expanded across the country, he said he regretted ever starting the project – because it would become a “shackle” for religious groups. Ma Ruilin left a comfortable life in China for hard work in New York City.

Source: CNN February 27, 2026 22:11 UTC