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Congressman Chris Smith Condemns Chinese Communist Party's Transnational Repression

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), has condemned the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) violent and stifling tactics of transnational repression, particularly against Falun Gong practitioners and other pro-democracy advocates. The CCP's campaigns to suppress and silence dissidents and human rights activists have intensified in recent years, with threats being carried out even in the United States. Smith highlighted the recent surge in threats, including a bomb threat called into the Kennedy Center in advance of Shen Yun's performance, as well as bomb and death threats directed at Shen Yun performers, Falun Gong practitioners, and members of Congress supportive of Falun Gong.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is engaging in violent and stifling tactics of transnational repression, particularly against Falun Gong practitioners and other pro-democracy advocates.
  • Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has condemned the CCP's actions, citing the targeting of Shen Yun performances for showing China before communism, as well as threats against performance venues, event sponsors, show performers, and their families in China.
  • The CCP has also targeted Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, and other peaceful dissidents through acts of "lawfare, social media harassment, cyber-hacking, and physical threats, including in the United States."
  • Smith has spoken out against the CCP's attacks on peaceful protestors at the 2023 APEC Summit in San Francisco, citing the role of Chinese consulates in choreographing the mayhem.
  • The Congressman has worked to address transnational repression through legislation, including the Transnational Repression Policy Act (H. R. 3654) and the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act (H. R. 1503).
  • The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, of which Smith is the author, has recently passed the House by a margin of 406 to 1, and Smith is calling on the audience to contact their Senators to demand that the bill be brought to the Senate floor for a vote.

Statistics:

  • Congressman Smith stated that there has been an uptick in CCP threats in the United States, including a bomb threat called into the Kennedy Center in advance of Shen Yun's performance.
  • Smith also mentioned that between 2 to 6 internal organs per victim are extracted in the CCP's practice of forced organ harvesting.
  • The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act (H. R. 1503) passed the House by a margin of 406 to 1.

Sources:

  • Congressman Chris Smith, Office of New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith.
  • The Global Tuidang Center.
  • The Washington Post.
  • Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).
  • House of Representatives.

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