Chen Xuelia and Wang Shaoquan were angry when campaign posters were labeled -Agents of the Communist Party of China-

On October 18, Chen Hsu-Li and Philip Shaw Chuan Wang, candidates representing the Republican and Conservative parties for the New York State Senate and Assembly in Brooklyn and Queens respectively, held a press conference in Bensonhurst to address recent incidents involving their campaign posters. Unidentified individuals have been placing stickers labeling them as “Chinese Communist Party agents” on their promotional materials. During the press conference, both candidates issued a statement to those behind these actions, inviting them to engage in an open discussion about their political views instead of resorting to defamatory tactics.

With the election approaching, tensions have heightened in the campaign environment. Chen noted alarming occurrences, such as the vandalism of his campaign posters and the removal of his yard signs, which were carelessly discarded on the roadside. Additionally, surveillance footage provided by local Asian business owners captured two masked individuals placing the “China Communist Party Agent” stickers on his and Wang’s campaign posters late at night in a commercial area.

Chen, who immigrated from Hong Kong to the U.S. at the age of 11 and has deep roots in China, expressed his pride in being an American citizen. He emphasized his decades-long dedication to public service, including six years in the military and 27 years with the NYPD. He condemned the attempts to label him as a “Chinese spy,” describing such actions as disgraceful and immature.

Wang, originally from Taiwan, reflected on his father’s fears regarding rising tensions between Taiwan and China, which led to their immigration to the U.S. He expressed disbelief at how he could be connected to the Chinese Communist Party, calling it absurd. He urged those responsible for the smear campaign to cease their actions and encouraged open dialogue instead. Both candidates expressed their disdain for these political games, reiterating their commitment to focusing their energy and attention on serving the community.