LOOMIS, Calif. — China is demanding that the Obama administration return a wealthy and politically connected businessman who fled to the United States, several American officials familiar with the case said.
Should he seek political asylum, he could become one of the most damaging defectors in the history of the People’s Republic.
The case of the businessman, Ling Wancheng, has strained relations between two nations already at odds on numerous issues before President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States in September, including an extensive cybertheft of US government data and China’s aggressive territorial claims.
Ling is the youngest brother of Ling Jihua, who for years held a post equivalent to that of the White House chief of staff, overseeing the Communist Party’s inner sanctum as director of its General Office. Ling Jihua is one of the highest-profile casualties of an anticorruption campaign that Xi has made a centerpiece of his government.
The Obama administration has thus far refused to accede to Beijing’s demands for Ling Wancheng, and his possible defection could be an intelligence coup at China’s expense after it was revealed last month that computer hackers had stolen the personnel files of millions of US government workers and contractors.
American officials have said they are nearly certain the Chinese government carried out the data theft.
Ling’s wealth and his family’s status have allowed him to move freely in elite circles in China, and he might be in possession of embarrassing information about current and former officials loyal to Xi.
Ling appears to have evaded Chinese authorities. The Chinese government in recent months has been raising pressure on the Obama administration to return Ling, the American officials said.