US charges Israeli-US think tank head with being Chinese agent

The United States has charged the head of a US think tank with being an agent of China, as well as seeking to broker the sale of weapons and Iranian oil.

Federal prosecutors in New York charged Gal Luft, a dual citizen of the US and Israel, of engaging “in multiple, serious, criminal schemes”, according to a statement released on Monday by the Department of Justice.

According to prosecutors, Luft “subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States to seek to promote Chinese policies by acting through a former high-ranking US Government official”.

The official was not named.

In addition, Luft “acted as a broker in deals for dangerous weapons and Iranian oil; and he told multiple lies about his crimes to law enforcement”, the statement said.

The 57-year-old was arrested in February at Cyprus airport, but fled after he was released on bail pending US extradition proceedings, prosecutors said. The Department of Justice said it was asking for information on Luft’s whereabouts.