A Chinese national has been charged with acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed local California politician.

The decision by New York prosecutors to charge a former aide to the New York governor this week with acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government has raised concerns about China’s efforts to influence U.S. politics.

The arrest of a former aide to two New York governors highlights a broad effort by the federal government to root out covert agents advancing China’s interests on American soil.

Federal prosecutors say a former aide to two New York governors has been charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government.