Head of US Think Tank Facing Extradition on Charges Related to Chinese Agent Activities, Reports Reuters

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK – The head of a U.S. think tank, who was indicted last year for acting as an unregistered agent for China, has been arrested and is set to be extradited in the coming weeks or months, according to prosecutors.

In July 2023, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Gal Luft with paying a former high-ranking U.S. government official on behalf of Chinese principals in 2016 and attempting to negotiate the sale of weapons and Iranian oil.

Luft, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Israel, was initially arrested in Cyprus last February but fled while on bail, as noted in a court filing from prosecutors. He has since been re-arrested, though details regarding the time and location were not disclosed.

Luft, who co-directs a Washington-based think tank focused on global security analysis, asserted through social media that he has never engaged in arms dealing and described the charges against him as politically motivated. The think tank expressed confidence in Luft’s innocence last year.

Neither Luft nor his organization provided immediate responses to requests for comment on the latest developments.

The significance of this case lies in the U.S. Justice Department’s increased efforts to target alleged agents working for adversaries like Russia and China. Recently, federal prosecutors have charged two employees of the Russian state media and a former New York state government employee in connection with influencing the 2024 election and promoting China’s interests, respectively.

Congressional Republicans have identified Luft as a potential key figure in their ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving Democratic President Joe Biden, although the White House has dismissed these inquiries as unfounded.

Following Luft’s extradition, he is expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan to enter a plea.