The Weird, Twisting Tale of How China Spied on Alysa Liu and Her Dad
Background of the Spying Incident
Years before Alysa Liu became an Olympic superstar, a Chinese operative attempted to stalk her father, Arthur Liu, and monitored other U.S. residents believed to be political dissidents against China.
Details of the Targeting
On November 16, 2021, Matthew Ziburis, a man in the Bay Area, was seen stalking an individual he referred to as an ‘enemy,’ indicating a possible connection to the incident involving Alysa Liu and her father.
According to reports, the operation targeted individuals who had protested the Chinese government, particularly following the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. The U.S. figure skater and her father were reportedly under surveillance by Chinese operatives.
Impact on Alysa Liu and Her Family
The spying ordeal came close to derailing Alysa Liu’s Olympic skating dream. Her father, a refugee, described the experience as terrifying, and it deeply affected the family.
After a two-year hiatus, Alysa Liu returned to figure skating and became the first U.S. women’s figure skater to win Olympic gold since 2002, intentionally without her father present during the event.
Media Coverage and Public Reaction
- The story gained widespread attention through outlets such as Wired, Forbes, and Yahoo Sports.
- YouTube videos and interviews, such as one titled ‘Spies in Beijing: Alysa Liu tells her father’s escape story,’ further detailed the family’s experience.
來源：https://www.wired.com/story/the-weird-twisting-tale-of-how-china-spied-on-alysa-liu-and-her-dad/