Double Cross?

After U.S. immigrant Gao Zhan was arrested while visiting Beijing with her husband and son in 2001, her conviction on charges of spying for Taiwan became an international incident. Human-rights groups trumpeted her cause and U.S. President George W. Bush complained to then Chinese President Jiang Zemin. A few days before U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell landed in Beijing for a visit in July 2001, the sociologist was released and returned to a hero's welcome in Washington.

U.S. officials may now be regretting their efforts on Gao's behalf. In a Virginia federal court last week, she pleaded...