There has been a profound shift in relations between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The significance of this can’t be understated, yet it appears to have gone largely unnoticed. This is bigger than U.S. sanctions on high-tech chips. This is bigger than the previous arrests of Chinese spies. This hits on something deeply held by the CCP as one of its core interests, and changes a seemingly unspoken agreement in America to leave the issue untouched.

It was easy to miss. On May 26, two suspected Chinese spies were arrested by U.S. authorities. The Department of Justice said in a release that John Chen and Lin Feng were charged in a bribery scheme that was directed by the Chinese authorities. They face charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering.

What matters most though is the story behind these charges. The two were allegedly involved in a CCP plot against Falun Gong right here in the United States.