U.S. authorities are pursuing the extradition of two foreign nationals arrested in Serbia for allegedly orchestrating a harassment campaign against a Los Angeles artist who criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping.

At a Glance

• Chinese national Cui Guanghai and British citizen John Miller were arrested in Serbia on April 24 at U.S. request
• The pair allegedly orchestrated surveillance, property damage, and intimidation against an LA artist critical of Xi Jinping
• Prosecutors claim Cui acted “on behalf of the PRC government” with Miller as his intermediary
• The operation included placement of tracking devices, tire slashing, and orders to destroy statues mocking Xi
• Both suspects face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and interstate stalking charges

International Plot Against American Artist

Chinese national Cui Guanghai and British citizen John Miller were arrested by Serbian authorities on April 24 following a joint operation with U.S. law enforcement. The arrests came after an investigation revealed their alleged involvement in a transnational scheme targeting a Los Angeles-based artist known for creating provocative statues of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Federal prosecutors believe the harassment campaign represented a direct attempt to silence criticism of the Chinese government on American soil.

“The victim had previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] government and President Xi,” federal authorities stated.

Undercover Operation Exposed Harassment Campaign

According to court documents, the plot began in October 2023 when Cui and Miller sought to prevent the artist from protesting during Xi Jinping’s visit to the APEC summit in San Francisco. The suspects allegedly hired individuals to conduct surveillance on the artist, install tracking devices on his vehicle, slash his tires, and destroy statues he had created depicting Xi and his wife. What the conspirators didn’t know was that they had recruited undercover FBI personnel.

Prosecutors assert Cui was “acting at the direction and control” of Chinese officials, with Miller serving as the middleman between Cui and the hired operatives. Court documents cite payments totaling $36,500 made to what turned out to be “a confidential human source working for the FBI” and an undercover agent.

Repeated Attempts to Silence Dissent

The harassment campaign wasn’t a one-time effort. Investigators discovered a similar scheme launched in spring 2025 after the artist announced plans to release an online video featuring new statues of Xi Jinping and his wife. The apparent goal was preventing the statues from being displayed publicly. Evidence also suggests Miller traveled to China and met with government officials, subsequently claiming he received a promotion after these meetings.

“A similar scheme took place in the spring of 2025, after the victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statutes of President Xi and his wife,” the Justice Department statement explained.

Alleged State-Sponsored Intimidation

The Justice Department has explicitly linked these activities to the Chinese government. Court documents describe Cui as operating “on behalf of the PRC government” in coordinating the harassment campaign. In addition to targeting the Los Angeles artist, Miller allegedly organized staged protests against Taiwan’s president during an April 2023 U.S. visit, hiring actors to pose as demonstrators. These manufactured protests were recorded and shared on social media platforms.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Consequences

The U.S. government is now seeking the extradition of both suspects to face charges of conspiracy and interstate stalking. If convicted, Cui and Miller could face sentences of up to five years in federal prison. The case represents a significant effort by American authorities to combat transnational repression, particularly attempts by foreign governments to silence critics living in the United States through intimidation, threats, or harassment.

This case highlights growing concerns about authoritarian regimes extending their reach across borders to target dissidents and critics. It also demonstrates the U.S. commitment to protecting freedom of expression within its borders, regardless of which foreign power might be offended by that expression.