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Locotree t1_itspubb wrote

Interesting. Dude renounced his US citizenship and became Chinese. Much like Lee Harvey Oswald did with the Soviets, before he came crawling back begging for forgiveness.

What do you charge him with I wonder?

Normally, it would be Tax Evasion. Running a company overseas but not giving the US their owed taxes, see Paul Manafort. But this dude seemingly disowned the USA and rebuked his citizenship. So is it Tax Evasion still?

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AreWeCowabunga t1_itss0ep wrote

Even if you revoke your citizenship, I think you still have to pay US taxes for 10 years.

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Mist_Rising t1_itt137g wrote

I love how America demands your money even after you literally cancel your representation and leave.

Their like the fucking hotel California, once they have you, you can never leave.

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not_the_fox t1_itt2fx8 wrote

And deeply ironic for a country that went to war over taxation with no representation.

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nagrom7 t1_ittpvn0 wrote

Something something Puerto Rico and DC.

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CommyTzar t1_itu0blm wrote

I read that the US actually did have the kind of representation they complained about not having, the irony thickens?

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sensuability t1_ituaki9 wrote

Not much in the way of taxes either. That slogan came out about 70 years after the war of independence.

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not_the_fox t1_iu36amw wrote

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_taxation_without_representation

>The phrase had been used for more than a generation in Ireland.[8][9] By 1765, the term was in use in Boston, and local politician James Otis was most famously associated with the phrase, "taxation without representation is tyranny."[10] In the course of the Revolutionary era (1750–1783), many arguments were pursued that sought to resolve the dispute surrounding Parliamentary sovereignty, taxation, self-governance and representation
>
>In the context of British taxation of its American colonies, the slogan"No taxation without representation" appeared for the first time in a headline of a February 1768 London Magazine printing of Lord Camden's "Speech on the Declaratory Bill of the Sovereignty of Great Britain over the Colonies," which was given in parliament.[2] The British government argued for virtual representation, the idea that people were represented by members of Parliament even if they didn't get to vote for them.

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SideburnSundays t1_ittffaf wrote

They demand taxes from all expats even if they’re already paying taxes to their host country. I’m below that income threshold but still have to report my earnings, which is a pain in the ass since all the “free” file options won’t let me file for free. “Please pay with US credit card that has US billing address and US phone number.” I have no US credit card, no US address, and no US phone number so fuck them and fuck the IRS. I pay taxes to my host country that actually puts my tax money back into social services I need.

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AdClemson t1_ittrqq9 wrote

As far as I know, Uncle Sam is the only country in the world that does that to its citizens living/working in foreign lands.

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AggravatingBobcat574 t1_itunfm3 wrote

It’s like you can’t avoid repaying your loan by closing your account with the bank. You still owe the money.

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420ipblood t1_itz2gyk wrote

They're*

And yes, what little tax is required in the US is REQUIRED.

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Mist_Rising t1_iu0nxsn wrote

No other developed country collects taxes from people who don't live in the country, let alone from non citizens.

Your argument is like saying Britian should be able to tax all Americans because they were once a colony of Britain. Thinking there was a war over that shit.. something about no tax without representation...

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pagit t1_ittl1s0 wrote

I would imagine there is official procedures to renouncing one's citizenship.

You can't just declare it like Michael Scott declares bankruptcy.

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catsloveart t1_ittcvde wrote

you can only renounce your citizenship after you have paid off any taxes owed. just cause you renounced don’t mean the government recognizes that you did of you still owed uncle sam his cut.

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RaeseneAndu t1_ittu9mv wrote

I don't think he became Chinese, an Australian article said he was an Australian citizen now and that our treaty with the USA allows us to extradite our citizens to the USA if they ask for them.

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bigjohntucker t1_iturl2y wrote

There is a lot more to unpack with this dude. If you renounce your US citizenship you lose military benefits, he was vet.

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IRatherChangeMyName t1_itssf3o wrote

This looks shady. Probably the government will charge him for spying. Can any former soldier change his nationality to the one of a country his original country is not at war with? I would expect so. Prosecuting former citizens living abroad sounds bad. Even if it's China or any other "adversary". It's what you would expect those other countries to do

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AlphaWhiskeyOscar t1_itsvw9o wrote

If he was a Harrier pilot, as the article says, he most likely had a clearance and was privy to classified information. Whatever he knew, China certainly knows. I'd guess it has something to do with that.

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sjfiuauqadfj t1_itt9n8x wrote

i mean, americans who went to syria and joined isis have been arrested and charged too and i think most people are okay with that lol

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TonyJZX t1_ittg95r wrote

yeaj but they didnt renounce their citizenships etc

also whatever tech is in the Harrier the chinese literally do not care about

the plane was around before the moon flight... also ask yourself why the british dont fly it any more and the us is on a phase out

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sjfiuauqadfj t1_itthixt wrote

citizen or no citizen you can still break laws and be charged for it

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TipTapTips t1_ittx23c wrote

just look at julian assanage to know that's true.

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nova9001 t1_itu28wc wrote

>Details of the US arrest warrant and the charges he faces are sealed.

Turns out if you are the US government, you can get away with anything. Arrested and charges aren't revealed.

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minus_minus t1_ittxu2w wrote

It seems kind of bonkers to allow former military officers to renounce their citizenship and work in a sensitive industry in a hostile country. OTOH, maybe nobody ever imagined this level of shenanigans.

Related, it’s pretty common for former service members to take related employment in the private sector. I’m guessing this guy seriously burned some bridges stateside to end up in China.

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