Alleged Chinese spy ‘plotted’ to make Xi critic ‘bang bang and gone’
A British father accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party plotted to kidnap and kneecap a critic of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment.
John Miller, a businessman who owns a £1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells that is flanked by two Chinese Terracotta warriors, is alleged to have tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China.
The 63-year-old, whose wife is a churchwarden in Kent, was described by neighbours as “funny, nice and perfectly normal”.
However, he is accused of attempting to traffic “sensitive American military technology” to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones.
It is also alleged that he referred to Mr Xi, the Chinese president, as “the boss” in intercepted phone calls.
Court documents in the US state that Mr Miller wanted to have a Los Angeles artist who was a critic of Mr Xi “f---ed up”. He allegedly said his Chinese handlers were “bang up” for launching an attack on him with “bullets” instead of baseball bats.
In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with Cui Guanghai, a 43-year-old Chinese national, on the orders of the FBI in Serbia, where he is awaiting extradition to the US.
The pair were charged after approaching two individuals who, unbeknown to them, were working for the FBI.
Mr Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK. He has held roles in at least five UK companies, including a firm that appeared to facilitate English language teaching jobs in China but is now dissolved.
On Sunday, neighbours described the Millers as a “perfect family”, and told of their surprise at his arrest.
One said: “He was a nice guy. Over and above that I didn’t know what he did for work. He was funny, nice and perfectly normal. He wasn’t cagey... I am astounded.
“It’s awful for him, and if he has done it he’s a bloody idiot, but it’s innocent until proven guilty. It’s slightly surreal.”
‘A kind man and good neighbour’
At the Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr, where Mr Miller’s wife Bea is a warden, Rev Laurence Powell said: “It is shocking to hear this about John. He is a very kind man and a good neighbour. I feel so sorry for Beatrice. She must be going through hell right now.”
Mr Miller is accused of employing a wide range of tactics over two and a half years to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten the Xi critic in LA.
According to a 27-page indictment at the US District Court for the Central District of California, Mr Miller told a confidential FBI source that “the real f---ing pay... the real payday is going to be putting the siding up on that guy” and “there will be extra cash to play with when that happens”.
A special agent said “siding” meant an assault and that there had been an earlier conversation where Mr Miller “had discussed possibly kidnapping the victim”.
“They want it bang bang and gone,” Miller is quoted as saying in a recorded phone call. “No talking to, no nothing to, like a mugging or something. Take his f---ing watch. Take his phone.”
He is then asked if he cares if he preferred “bullets versus baseball bat”, before replying: “Um, not necessarily. But I think you’d get paid more for bullets. And the guys I spoke to said that’s way f---ing easier. Apparently, they’re not so much baseball bat, or like an ice pick is the best way of doing it.
“On the knees and ankles. Doesn’t necessarily have to be bullets. Have him f---ed up and have his picture taken. F---ed up. But the guys I’ve spoken to, the easiest thing is just bam bam bang bang and just walk away. But listen it doesn’t have to be that... knees and ankles.”
‘Chinese Christmas wish list’
Another phone call appears to show Mr Miller had arranged a payment with a “minimum” of $100,000 for the source to carry out the assault, and, when questioned if there was a problem from the female handler Mr Guanghai was reporting to, he replied: “Oh no no no no.
“She’s second in command. And her boss is bang up for it. There’s another guy who needs to approve it. But they’re all bang up for it. As long as it’s reasonable. The numbers we talked about I’m pretty sure it’s 100 per cent.”
The documents show that the pair also enlisted undercover agents to stop the victim from protesting against Mr Xi’s appearance at a summit and installed tracking devices on the victim’s car, and paid the undercover agents to slash their tyres.
They also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by the artist which depicted Mr Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
Initially, Mr Miller had allegedly wanted to steal the statues and “remove the heads” as evidence but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to “smash up” them up.
In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (£27,100) to convince the victim to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest.
He also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military as part of a “Christmas wish list”. He is quoted as saying his buyers were “interested in the Western stuff” including armour plates for “tanks that the Yanks have”.
He reportedly tried to buy a £37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at £148,000, a £668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a £1.5 million air-defence radar system.
Mr Miller also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information.
At one point, the Briton allegedly suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong.
‘Big boss’
Several times in Mr Miller’s conversations, he is said to have mentioned a “boss” or at times a “big boss” that seems to be the one giving orders.
According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Miller’s use of the phrase “boss” “refer[s] to President Xi” and “demonstrates [Miller’s] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government.”
Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, said: “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems.
“We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”
If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
A British father accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party plotted to kidnap and kneecap a critic of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment.
John Miller, a businessman who owns a £1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells that is flanked by two Chinese Terracotta warriors, is alleged to have tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China.
The 63-year-old, whose wife is a churchwarden in Kent, was described by neighbours as “funny, nice and perfectly normal”.
However, he is accused of attempting to traffic “sensitive American military technology” to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones.
It is also alleged that he referred to Mr Xi, the Chinese president, as “the boss” in intercepted phone calls.
Court documents in the US state that Mr Miller wanted to have a Los Angeles artist who was a critic of Mr Xi “f---ed up”. He allegedly said his Chinese handlers were “bang up” for launching an attack on him with “bullets” instead of baseball bats.
In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with Cui Guanghai, a 43-year-old Chinese national, on the orders of the FBI in Serbia, where he is awaiting extradition to the US.
The pair were charged after approaching two individuals who, unbeknown to them, were working for the FBI.
Mr Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK. He has held roles in at least five UK companies, including a firm that appeared to facilitate English language teaching jobs in China but is now dissolved.
On Sunday, neighbours described the Millers as a “perfect family”, and told of their surprise at his arrest.
One said: “He was a nice guy. Over and above that I didn’t know what he did for work. He was funny, nice and perfectly normal. He wasn’t cagey... I am astounded.
“It’s awful for him, and if he has done it he’s a bloody idiot, but it’s innocent until proven guilty. It’s slightly surreal.”
‘A kind man and good neighbour’
At the Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr, where Mr Miller’s wife Bea is a warden, Rev Laurence Powell said: “It is shocking to hear this about John. He is a very kind man and a good neighbour. I feel so sorry for Beatrice. She must be going through hell right now.”
Mr Miller is accused of employing a wide range of tactics over two and a half years to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten the Xi critic in LA.
According to a 27-page indictment at the US District Court for the Central District of California, Mr Miller told a confidential FBI source that “the real f---ing pay... the real payday is going to be putting the siding up on that guy” and “there will be extra cash to play with when that happens”.
A special agent said “siding” meant an assault and that there had been an earlier conversation where Mr Miller “had discussed possibly kidnapping the victim”.
“They want it bang bang and gone,” Miller is quoted as saying in a recorded phone call. “No talking to, no nothing to, like a mugging or something. Take his f---ing watch. Take his phone.”
He is then asked if he cares if he preferred “bullets versus baseball bat”, before replying: “Um, not necessarily. But I think you’d get paid more for bullets. And the guys I spoke to said that’s way f---ing easier. Apparently, they’re not so much baseball bat, or like an ice pick is the best way of doing it.
“On the knees and ankles. Doesn’t necessarily have to be bullets. Have him f---ed up and have his picture taken. F---ed up. But the guys I’ve spoken to, the easiest thing is just bam bam bang bang and just walk away. But listen it doesn’t have to be that... knees and ankles.”
‘Chinese Christmas wish list’
Another phone call appears to show Mr Miller had arranged a payment with a “minimum” of $100,000 for the source to carry out the assault, and, when questioned if there was a problem from the female handler Mr Guanghai was reporting to, he replied: “Oh no no no no.
“She’s second in command. And her boss is bang up for it. There’s another guy who needs to approve it. But they’re all bang up for it. As long as it’s reasonable. The numbers we talked about I’m pretty sure it’s 100 per cent.”
The documents show that the pair also enlisted undercover agents to stop the victim from protesting against Mr Xi’s appearance at a summit and installed tracking devices on the victim’s car, and paid the undercover agents to slash their tyres.
They also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by the artist which depicted Mr Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
Initially, Mr Miller had allegedly wanted to steal the statues and “remove the heads” as evidence but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to “smash up” them up.
In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (£27,100) to convince the victim to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest.
He also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military as part of a “Christmas wish list”. He is quoted as saying his buyers were “interested in the Western stuff” including armour plates for “tanks that the Yanks have”.
He reportedly tried to buy a £37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at £148,000, a £668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a £1.5 million air-defence radar system.
Mr Miller also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information.
At one point, the Briton allegedly suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong.
‘Big boss’
Several times in Mr Miller’s conversations, he is said to have mentioned a “boss” or at times a “big boss” that seems to be the one giving orders.
According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Miller’s use of the phrase “boss” “refer[s] to President Xi” and “demonstrates [Miller’s] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government.”
Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, said: “This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems.
“We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.”
If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
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