Transnational Repression Intensifies amid Anonymous Threats and Parade Assault

Dear Reader,

The Chinese regime’s plan to “eliminate” Falun Gong worldwide, as outlined in leaked Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) meeting notes from June of this year, is manifesting with increases in disinformation online, impersonations of Falun Gong practitioners, threats of deadly violence, and at least one physical assault last month. This week, the Falun Dafa Information Center launched a new incident tracker to document and monitor emerging incidents, counting at least 13 since January 2024 that involved a threat of physical violence or actual attack.

Other stories in today’s newsletter include:

• A woman in Australia calls for the release of her mother who has been detained in China since December 2020.

• Human Rights Without Borders calls on European officials to pay attention to the plight of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.

• A 77-year-old woman is repeatedly harassed after losing her appeal of a five-year sentence.

Additionally, Falun Dafa Information Center researcher Cynthia Sun’s written testimony was recently included in a hearing on Americans unjustly detained in China held by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Meanwhile, State Organs, a new award-winning documentary exposing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forced organ harvesting, is now playing in select theaters and available for viewing on major streaming platforms.

FEATURE STORY

A man in Brooklyn, New York hits a woman participating in a Falun Gong parade on September 14, 2024.

What’s new?

Falun Gong practitioners around the world have long been targets of CCP smear campaigns and transnational repression. Nevertheless, starting in August 2023, the Falun Dafa Information Center noticed an uptick in online disinformation and offline threats targeting Falun Gong practitioners and Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance troupe many of whose performers practice Falun Gong.

In June and July 2024, the Center obtained leaked notes from internal meetings and reports at China’s Ministry of Public Security and a state-run think tank. These stated explicitly that the regime was planning to escalate its strategy to “eliminate” Falun Gong worldwide, particularly targeting the United States. The notes cited forthcoming use of a variety of tactics—such as supporting anti-Falun Gong YouTubers, pushing false narratives to overseas media, and activating spies embedded in the Falun Gong community. Subsequent real-world events have matched these stated plans and included further escalations, such as X account impersonations, online harassment, and threats of deadly violence.

To better understand the evolving and intensifying campaign, the Center’s researchers have put together a page to document and monitor emerging incidents, law enforcement responses, and other pertinent information that have come to light since January 2024.

In an indication of the escalation and potential dangers evident in this campaign, 13 of the incidents documented as of October 9 include threats of violence or physical assaults against Falun Gong practitioners, Shen Yun performers, the staff of the Falun Dafa Information Center, theaters hosting Shen Yun Performances, or other public venues. With the exception of one physical attack on parade participants, actual violence did not come to pass in these cases and claims like bomb threats turned out to be false.

Why does it matter?

The CCP and its proxies appear to be shifting to more aggressive tactics to silence Falun Gong practitioners and sabotage Shen Yun performances outside China, actions that are taking on a more threatening tone. At the same time, the regime’s disinformation campaign is not just about tarnishing reputations—it has real-world consequences that shape how people interact with and perceive Falun Gong.

Some of the Chinese individuals assaulting practitioners or threatening violence may have been deceived by falsehoods about Falun Gong. For Western audiences, disinformation fosters ignorance and hesitation in supporting Falun Gong practitioners’ human rights. Government officials might be less inclined to back legislation aimed at protecting Falun Gong practitioners if they are swayed by misleading narratives or fake emails that paint the group as dangerous or bizarre. Similarly, the public might be more likely to dismiss the group’s plight.

For example, an individual falsely claiming to be a Falun Gong practitioner sent a fake bomb threat to the Central Park Zoo in New York, apparently trying to tarnish the practice’s reputation. Distorted narratives or frivolous bomb threats can render theaters more reluctant to host Shen Yun performances, allowing the CCP to achieve a goal it often failed to reach via more direct diplomatic pressure. Such dynamics silence an independent voice among the Chinese diaspora and deny audiences the opportunity to make their own choices about which shows they want to watch. Addressing this misinformation and identifying those behind threats of violence are critical to protecting Falun Gong practitioners, their families, and the wider public.

What else do you need to know?

The campaign against Falun Gong has been long standing, but in recent years, the regime seems to have revitalized efforts to stamp out Falun Gong both within China and abroad. Amid a renewed CCP focus on safeguarding regime security in China, the crackdown on Falun Gong was cited as a top priority for the central leadership and local authorities as suggested by work reports, speeches, and directives from at least 12 provinces dated since 2017. The regime’s violent campaign to eradicate Falun Gong is viewed within the party as a central component of the regime’s efforts to control the population, silent dissenting voices, maintain political power, and retain ideological supremacy.

FAMILY RESCUE

An Australian woman, Chen Xiao, is calling for the release of her mother, Ms. Tan Zezhen, who has been detained in China since December 19, 2020 for distributing information about Falun Gong. Ms. Tan, a 76-year-old woman from Guangxi Province, was arrested with another woman, Ms. Xu Shanping. Ms. Xu died at the age of 61 just two days after her release from prison in July 2024. Since Ms. Tan’s arrest, Ms. Chen has not heard from her mother nor received any updates or official documents from authorities about her location or length of sentence.

WORLDWIDE ATTENTION

On September 20, 2024, Falun Gong practitioners held a parade and rally in Brussels to raise awareness about the CCP’s persecution. Speakers, including local politicians and human rights activists, condemned the violent repression in China, including forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. Ding Lebin, a German resident, shared about his parents’ abduction, with his father still imprisoned and his family facing ongoing police harassment. The event called on European citizens and institutions to confront China’s persecution of Falun Gong and stand against these human rights abuses.

PERSECUTION IN CHINA

On September 20, 2024, police in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province made their most recent attempt to take 77-year-old Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Wei Xiuying into custody. Ms. Wei had been detained in May 2021 for practicing Falun Gong but was released on bail after failing a physical examination (her health had been damaged during a prior imprisonment). A Chinese court sentenced her to five years in prison following an unfair trial, but she attempted to appeal the decision. On February 24, 2023, a judge rejected her appeal and affirmed a five-year prison sentence and 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) fine, leading to the latest round of police harassment and attempts to detain her. For over 15 years, Ms. Wei has endured repeated harassment and brutal persecution for her beliefs, including torture during a prior five-year prison term that left her in severe physical condition. Despite her health issues, the Chinese authorities continue to pursue her, harassing both her and her family, who have also suffered emotionally and financially due to the persecution.

On September 18, 2024, the CECC held a hearing to address the challenge of Americans unjustly detained in China. In her written testimony for the hearing, Cynthia Sun, a researcher at the Falun Dafa Information Center, highlighted the cases of U.S. citizens whose relatives have been unjustly detained in China for practicing Falun Gong. Grace Chen, a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic, has not heard from her parents since their detention in 2020. Lydia and Steven Wang’s mother remains imprisoned for raising awareness about the persecution, while Danielle Wang’s father is under house arrest after years of imprisonment following a high-profile trial. Sun also noted the case of a U.S. citizen whose mother died in custody in 2019 under suspicious circumstances. She called for urgent U.S. government intervention, including passing the Falun Gong Protection Act, increasing diplomatic efforts, and reuniting these families.

This trailer for the new award-winning documentary State Organs sheds light on the Chinese Communist Party’s horrific practice of forced organ harvesting. Directed by Peabody Award-winner Raymond Zhang and with a score by Emmy Award-winning composer Daryl Bennett, the film follows the emotional journey of families searching for their loved ones who disappeared in China, only to discover the brutal reality behind their loss. State Organs not only uncovers this chilling human rights abuse but also calls for urgent global action to confront and end these atrocities.

In a film screening in Lewes, Delaware on October 3, 2024, there was a clear sense of urgency among attendees reflected through the discussion afterwards. “Forced organ harvesting is just beyond comprehension,” said Janine Fitzgerald, president-elect of the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach Rotary Club. “I’m not going to sleep tonight. I don’t think half these people here will either. The world has to come together and get rid of all the power-hungry individuals who treat people as mere commodities, not people.”

In addition to select live screenings, the film is also available for viewing on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and others.