NEW YORK—An ever-growing lineup of whistleblowers have identified the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the culprit behind an avalanche of attacks on Falun Gong practitioners and the companies they founded to raise awareness about the persecution they face in China. These attacks, employing various tactics and forms, showcase the breadth of the CCP's toolkit for silencing its critics.
One such organization, Shen Yun Performing Arts, produces acclaimed classical Chinese dance shows presented globally under the tagline "China Before Communism." This company was founded by Falun Gong practitioners who fled religious persecution. Over recent years, Shen Yun and the Falun Gong movement more broadly have faced constant assaults within the U.S., including bomb threats, mass shooting threats, social media trolling, impersonation, lawsuits, media smears, and even physical assaults.
Whistleblowers have warned recently, saying these attacks seem orchestrated by the CCP as part of a new campaign to eliminate Falun Gong, not just within China but also abroad. Observers note the attempts mainly rely on disinformation spread through social media influencers and Western media outlets not easily traceable back to the CCP.
This coordinated campaign was personally ordered by CCP leader Xi Jinping during a secret meeting held in October 2022. Yuan Hongbing, a Chinese legal scholar living in exile, disclosed information from insiders who noted Xi had pinpointed Falun Gong and the U.S.-based companies started by its practitioners, including Shen Yun, The Epoch Times, and NTD Television, as key "hostile forces" against the CCP. Xi labeled the situation as dire.
Notably, Chen Yixin, the head of China’s Ministry of State Security, has purportedly taken charge of this campaign, utilizing various agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security. According to one whistleblower, the campaign employs undercover operatives from the Ministry of Public Security operating within the U.S. as part of their strategy: "Once these people are mobilized, the threat is very high."
Commentators have voiced significant concerns about the impact these programs have on U.S. sovereignty. "The CCP’s campaign against the Falun Gong is only the most outrageous example of the way Beijing is interfering in American sovereignty on a daily basis," noted Steven Mosher, social scientist and China expert, in correspondence with The Epoch Times. Echoing these sentiments, Reggie Littlejohn, founder of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, added, "The recent attacks on the Falun Gong are an illustration of the lengths to which the CCP will go to stomp out dissent."
The CCP’s operational focus heavily emphasizes disinformation and public perception control. Its approach has been described as part of its "Three Warfares" doctrine, which involves psychological warfare, public opinion warfare, and legal warfare. This doctrine aims to ruin morale, control narratives, and actively employ legal frameworks to subdue dissidents.
The scope of CCP influence extends widely across American institutions and media. Experts highlight how the regime strategically infiltrates various sectors, with the intention of shifting public narratives and preserving its interests. Often, these efforts manifest through the legal system, as the CCP utilizes avenues within the U.S. to challenge and silence critics. Littlejohn has articulated this concern, stating, "Lawfare is extremely effective. If…a company or…organization gets hit with one of these lawsuits, it can do them in."
This form of lawfare places tremendous strain on organizations like Shen Yun, which has faced frivolous lawsuits aimed at harassing and undermining its operations. The organization contends with legal pressures alongside its attempts to inform the public about human rights violations happening under CCP rule. During the past months alone, there have been various lawsuits linked to Shen Yun, diverting resources and attention from its mission.
Experts increasingly warn of the necessity for legal reforms to counteract these CCP tactics. Recent hearings conducted by the House Committee on the CCP highlighted how these legal and media strategies increasingly jeopardize free speech and fair representation within American legal contexts. Rep. John Moolenaar stated during these sessions, "This is lawfare, plain and simple, and it needs to be stopped."
The avenues through which the CCP exerts its influence make it difficult to combat decisively. Sometimes, U.S.-based entities unwittingly become extensions of this regime's interests, with shadow involvement from CCP affiliates financing their legal campaigns.
Dong Lu, who previously operated within Chinese community networks and later dissociated from the CCP, provided insight on the regime's tactics. He noted, "They figured out…if we have people who join institutions, they could control policies and things like." He continued to elaborate on how long-term strategies of enlisting and cultivating agents allow the CCP to embed individuals within the very fabric of society.
Recognizing these tactics is imperative as the CCP remains persistent, deploying strategies involving intimidation or even coercion to achieve its goals. The essence of the matter lies not only within the acts but also the broader consequences for American freedoms.
Calls for renewed measures to curb the CCP's influence resound broadly. The urgency of confronting these tactics underlines the threat they pose, as experts continue to advocate for protective measures against China’s pervasive reach. Historical perspectives indicate the CCP's commitment to utilizing various fronts for undermining its adversaries, making the notion of safeguarding democratic values all the more pressing.
With continued reports of CCP efforts to undermine Falun Gong and its advocates, the importance of vigilance and discourse surrounding these issues is undeniable. Measures proposed by various authorities suggest steps toward more stringent regulations against foreign influence, aiming to protect fundamental rights and freedoms layered deeply within the American political and social constructs.
