Forced Organ Harvesting Survivor in the U.S. Faces Threats, Suspected Break-in

NEW YORK—Cheng Peiming, the first-known survivor of China’s forced organ harvesting practices, is facing escalating threats to his life in the United States after courageously exposing atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). A newly published online article and leaked insider information indicate that top party leaders have taken note of his case and that Chinese security agencies are engaged in systematic efforts to discredit, co-opt—or even kill—Cheng.

“Cheng survived the horrors of a Chinese prison and then risked his life to escape to the United States where he could speak freely,” said Levi Browde of the Falun Dafa Information Center. “The Chinese regime is terrified of his testimony and his courage to go public, so it is now attempting to silence him here on U.S. soil. We cannot allow the CCP and its proxy thugs to illicitly target people like Cheng in the United States.”

Between July and October, Cheng publicly recounted his experience of torture and organ harvesting survival at multiple public events across the country, including panel discussions and documentary screenings. In his appearances, Cheng shared harrowing details of his imprisonment for practicing Falun Gong and the forced organ harvesting he endured, shedding light on the CCP’s crimes. Medical experts have also examined Cheng, corroborating his testimony with findings that confirm parts of his liver and lung were indeed removed.

Chinese security services and top CCP leaders have reportedly taken notice of Cheng’s case and its impact on galvanizing greater attention to organ transplant abuses and the persecution of Falun Gong. As such, the regime is engaging in a concerted effort to discredit Cheng and, according to leaked information from an internal source, to “kill him directly and make it look like a suicide,” if needed. Alarmingly, over the past month, Cheng has faced several suspicious threats to his physical safety, most recently a break-in of his home in New York on November 2.

Chinese Government Reports

On October 24, 2024, the website of the Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau posted an article by the CCP-controlled China Anti-Cult Association falsely accusing Cheng Peiming of lying about his experiences and trying to discredit his account. The article claims that authorities in Heilongjiang Province conducted “in-depth” interviews with Cheng’s family, relatives, prison staff, and medical personnel, citing various quotations from them in an attempt to undermine his testimony. The article has been reposted by Chinese state media such as China Youth Daily.

The targeting of Cheng appears to be evolving beyond the information space, with evidence emerging of threats to his physical well-being. On October 31, a researcher with a network of sources in China shared with the Falun Dafa Information Center meeting notes he received from a Public Security Bureau insider warning about escalating threats to Cheng’s life. The leaked notes relayed that Chinese security agencies in Heilongjiang Province were undertaking a three-pronged strategy to pressure Cheng to rescind his claims and turn against Falun Gong or if not, to silence him:

1. The Public Security Bureau’s first strategy is to convince Cheng to return to China, mobilizing his relatives and friends to pressure him through both official and covert channels.
2. The second plan aims to persuade Cheng to retract his testimony on organ harvesting, involving friends of his from China and Chinese officials who would travel to the United States and offer him rewards, such as ensuring the safety of his family in China.
3. If the previous tactics fail, the third plot threatens Mr. Cheng’s life, planning to stage his death as a suicide to erase evidence and prevent further testimony. The inside source stated that “The Heilongjiang Public Security Bureau is responsible for the implementation of this plot and they are already making preparations.”

The source, who is sympathetic to Falun Gong and concerned about CCP agencies’ efforts to discredit or harm this critical witness, concludes with a warning to Cheng, the overseas researcher, and the global Falun Gong community:

Escalating Intimidation

Within days of this information surfacing, a security incident indeed occurred at Cheng’s home in New York state. On November 2, 2024, unidentified individuals reportedly broke into his home between approximately 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM. The bolt on the garage door had been forced open, and two doors in his home were found unlocked and left ajar. Cheng also discovered deep tire tracks leading into his backyard, but his security cameras and alarms were suspiciously offline from 1:12 AM to 6:18 AM. A police report was filed around 11:15 AM.

The break-in occurred in the aftermath of several other attempted attacks on Cheng and his vehicle over the past three months. Following a screening in October in Delaware of the documentary film State Organs, at which Mr. Cheng spoke about his experience, someone keyed his car. On two other occasions, nails were also found lodged in his tires. The first time, he only discovered the nails after one tire burst while he was driving, though thankfully no one was hurt.

“These tactics to silence me will not work,” said Cheng Peiming in an interview with the Falun Dafa Information Center. “I will never back down from exposing the truth. I am mentally and physically healthy, with friends and a supporting community in America that I trust. Please remember that I will never rescind my testimony.”

The Falun Dafa Information Center urges the relevant U.S. government agencies to take immediate action to protect Cheng and prevent further escalation of this targeted campaign of transnational repression.