Weaponizing America Against Americans (Levi Browde,2025 CPD China Webinar)
Introduction
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign of transnational repression extends beyond propaganda and litigation. In the United States, Falun Gong practitioners have been subject to direct harassment—both digital and physical—carried out by proxies, front groups, and state-linked operatives.
This post details the escalation from online trolling and smear campaigns to real-world threats, surveillance, and attempts at sabotage. It sheds light on how a foreign authoritarian regime is exporting fear into the heart of American civil society.
Bomb Threats and Terror-Style Disruption
Psychological Warfare on U.S. Soil
Between late 2024 and mid-2025, Shen Yun-affiliated venues received dozens of credible bomb and mass shooting threats:
- Kennedy Center (Feb 2025): Audience evacuated after emailed threat referencing ammonium nitrate.
- Berkeley, San Antonio, Waterbury, San Jose: Nearly identical messages warning of “remote detonation.”
- Dragon Springs, NY: Also received threats, impacting rehearsal schedules.
A Taiwanese investigation traced email origins to an IP subnet owned by Huawei Academy in Shenzhen, directly implicating CCP infrastructure.
“These threats were not idle—they were strategic acts of repression aimed at terrorizing innocent artists.” — Shen Yun Press Statement, March 2025
Surveillance, Doxxing, and Physical Intimidation
Covert Surveillance Tactics
Falun Gong practitioners report:
- Drones flying over private property near rehearsal sites
- Unknown individuals photographing families and homes
- Break-ins and theft at homes of prominent performers and instructors
In some cases, hard drives, ID cards, and rehearsal materials were stolen, suggesting espionage rather than ordinary burglary.
Practitioners have also been doxxed online:
- False allegations posted on Reddit, TikTok, and Wikipedia
- Photos of practitioners shared alongside slurs like “cult recruiter”
Cyberattacks and Digital Disruption
The Tech War Behind the Curtain
Falun Gong’s online presence—especially its media outlets like The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty TV—has been subject to:
- Denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks timed with major exposés on CCP abuses
- Fake content reports to YouTube, Twitter/X, and Facebook triggering removals
- Email phishing attacks targeting donor databases and press contacts
The cyber component aligns with China’s broader goals of controlling global narratives through state-level tech interference.
Law Enforcement and Federal Awareness
The U.S. government is increasingly aware of these tactics:
- DOJ arrests (2023): John Chen and Lin Feng for bribery and acting as unregistered foreign agents
- FBI briefings (2024): Advisories issued to theaters and law enforcement regarding PRC-linked threats
- Congressional hearings: Several testimonies submitted on Falun Gong-targeted harassment
However, there remains a gap in law enforcement protocols, particularly at the local level, where foreign repression is often miscategorized as routine vandalism or prank threats.
Conclusion
The CCP’s harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in the U.S. has evolved from diplomatic pressure to physical threats. These actions threaten not just individual victims but also the integrity of democratic society.
Falun Gong is one of the clearest cases of a religious group being targeted by a foreign power within American borders. It is time for policymakers, prosecutors, and the public to recognize these incidents for what they are: acts of transnational repression disguised as domestic noise.
These tactics are one part of a much larger strategy. To understand the full scope of the CCP’s campaign, please refer to our comprehensive hub page on Transnational Repression.
