Abducted as a child in Hanoi by a black market adoption agency, Chinaman was sold to an American buyer. After arriving in New York, he became the subject of discrimination, and, after running away from his foster parents, went to the city's Chinatown. He would boast that he was "more Chinese than the Chinese" and hated America and New York City with a passion. Chinaman later became a Navy SEALs swimmer and a special effects artist who specialized in kung fu and chi kung, the latter of which he could use to control his body weight at will, allowing him to walk on water, walls, and ceilings. Chinaman was the most proficient swimmer in the SEALs, and held the world record for longest time spent under water by a person. He possessed a full body tattoo of a dragon, which apparently came to life upon contact with water. When the unit was liquidated in late 2008, Chinaman was among the members who were killed.