Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 6: A study by the think tank, Second Street, revealed a systematic campaign of harassment, intimidation, and repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against Chinese Canadians, Uyghur Canadians, Tibetan Canadians, and Hong Kong Canadians, as well as their families. These individuals, whose views challenge CCP doctrine, or who expose the party’s activities in Canada, have become frequent targets of CCP interference.
The findings detailed a range of harassment tactics, including threatening or unexplained phone calls, digital surveillance, interference with social media, and even intimidation of family members in China or Hong Kong through visits from Chinese officials. Those targeted were not only activists but also individuals expressing support for Hong Kong, practicing religions like Christianity or Falun Gong, or advocating for democracy.
One respondent recounted that their WeChat account was shadow-banned after they posted support for Hong Kong in 2018. Another Falun Gong practitioner shared that they received anonymous calls filled with CCP propaganda and threats, while during a 2002 trip to Geneva to raise awareness at the United Nations about Falun Gong persecution, they were threatened with sexual harassment by a Mandarin-speaking caller aware of their visit.
Respondents have urged the federal government to introduce a foreign agent registry, similar to those in the United States, Australia, and other Western democracies. They also called for greater transparency from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and law enforcement agencies regarding foreign interference and transnational repression, even when these actions do not lead to criminal prosecution. This transparency, they argue, would deter CCP agents and help victims identify their harassers.
China’s transnational repression is reported to be the most sophisticated and widespread in the world. This claim is supported by a recent joint report, released on July 30, 2024, by the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), titled “Exporting Repression: Attacks on Protestors During Xi Jinping’s Visit to San Francisco in November 2023.” The 160-page report meticulously documents 34 cases of transnational repression during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. It outlines how CCP-aligned groups were mobilised across the U.S. to harass, assault, and intimidate protesters, drawing on testimonies from 26 protesters and a journalist who were directly affected by these acts of repression.
One Response
I’m an uyghur living in one of best country Canada 🇨🇦 and proud of a Canadian. Always appreciated the democracy countries against chinese regime and protecting the human rights all over the world. China must hold accountable for genocide the uyghurs and Tibetans.