Alysa Liu Mother discussion surfaces as father's history draws scrutiny

MILAN — As the U. S. figure skater competes for a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, questions about alysa liu mother and family safety have resurfaced after a 2022 U. S. Justice Department case that charged five men with acting on behalf of the Chinese government and targeting Chinese dissidents. The criminal complaint lists Arthur Liu as "Dissident 3" and Alysa Liu as "family member, " and investigators say one of the men was hired to conduct surveillance on the Liu family.

Alysa Liu Mother and family listed

The criminal filing cited by investigators identifies Arthur Liu by a dissident label and lists family members separately. Prosecutors said five men were charged in 2022 with acting on behalf of the Chinese government and targeting dissidents in the United States; the complaint identifies one of the charged individuals as having been hired to perform surveillance on the Liu family.

Alleged surveillance and contact attempts

Arthur Liu recounted a contact in the lead-up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in which a caller claiming to be a U. S. Olympic official asked for faxed copies of passports; he refused the request, saying it felt suspicious. Prosecutors named a person alleged to have been hired for surveillance work. The family has said members were targeted alongside Arthur because of his political activities prior to leaving China.

Father's past and safety concerns

Arthur told investigators and others that he organized pro-democracy demonstrations and hunger strikes in China and that those activities led to his inclusion on a local wanted list while he was attending university. He described being summoned and questioned by party officials and said his activism was rooted in outrage over the military crackdown on student protesters. Over time, maintaining safety became a primary objective of his travel decisions; he now plans to attend the 2026 Winter Olympics with a group of 26 relatives and friends.

Olympic implications and immediate outlook

Alysa Liu finished sixth at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing and is in third place at the Milano Cortina Winter Games heading into the long program on Thursday, Feb. 19 (ET). If she remains in third after the long program, she would be positioned for a medal. The family history and the criminal complaint naming a dissident and family members add a security backdrop to what is otherwise an athletic story, and the situation is being watched as the competition proceeds.

Key takeaways

• Five men were charged in 2022 with acting on behalf of the Chinese government and targeting dissidents in the U. S.; one was alleged to have been hired to surveil the Liu family.
• The criminal complaint lists Arthur Liu as "Dissident 3" and identifies Alysa Liu as a family member.
• Arthur said he will travel to the 2026 Winter Olympics with 26 relatives and friends; Alysa is competing for a medal with the long program set for Thursday, Feb. 19 (ET).