A Chinese student studying in the US has been handed a nine-month prison sentence for stalking and issuing threats to a fellow Chinese student who had posted pro-democracy posters on their campus.

The incident occurred at Berklee College of Music in Boston towards the end of 2022. The posters advocated for freedom, democracy, and solidarity with the Chinese people.

In response to the posters, Xiaolei Wu made menacing remarks, including a threat to sever the woman's hands. Following legal proceedings, a federal judge ruled that Wu, aged 26, would face deportation upon completion of his prison term.

Jodi Cohen, head of the FBI's Boston Division overseeing the investigation, expressed deep concern over Wu's actions, describing his exploitation of China's authoritarian stance as profoundly troubling.

The pro-democracy posters appeared amid heightened activism within the Chinese community abroad, particularly in late October 2022.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Wu, a jazz student at the college, had directly communicated threats to his victim through various online platforms, including email and social media channels such as WeChat and Instagram.

He told her that he had informed Chinese authorities about her actions and that China's public security agency would “greet” the victim’s family, the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts said on Wednesday.

He also tried to track her down and publicly posted her email address, "in the hopes that others would abuse the victim online", said the authorities.

Wu was charged in December 2022.

During his conviction in January this year, Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy said Wu's "violent threats achieved his goal of instiling fear" in his victim and others who might want to speak out against the Chinese government.

“Our office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate efforts to intimidate and threaten people to suppress their First Amendment rights. Censorship and repression campaigns will never be tolerated here," he said.

In the US, the charge of cyberstalking carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 (£202,000).

The same penalties apply to the charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications.

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