US Lawmakers Concerned About How to Protect Shen Yun from Attacks by the Chinese Communist Party

Expert Witnesses in US Congress Hearing Accuse Chinese Communist Party of Targeting Shen Yun Performing Arts Group

In a hearing held by the US Congress on Wednesday, experts testified that the Chinese Communist Party’s actions against the Shen Yun Performing Arts group in the United States amounted to criminal behavior targeted at the American people.

Washington DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton raised concerns about recent fake bomb threats made against Shen Yun Performing Arts. The Shen Yun Performing Arts group, based in New York, showcases traditional Chinese culture and heritage, portraying a vision of China before the communist regime. Over the past two decades, Shen Yun has been a consistent target of attacks from Beijing.

Norton referenced the threatening emails sent by the Chinese Communist Party to theater executives. These emails threatened mass shootings and bombings if the theaters did not cancel Shen Yun performances. Additionally, there were incidents of multiple slashings on the tires of Shen Yun touring buses. While the bomb and shooting threats were proven to be hollow, the tire slashings posed a real danger that could have led to explosions if not detected in time.

“What measures can the United States take to protect this group?” Norton asked Peter Mattis, the chairman of the Jamestown Foundation, during the hearing.

Mattis emphasized that the US must “actively investigate these criminal activities.”

“These must be a priority for investigative agencies, not only local law enforcement but also federal resources,” Mattis stated.

“When we see these acts, frankly speaking, they are criminal acts carried out by a foreign government on our soil against our people. This is something that we must prioritize in our bilateral relations with Beijing, rather than shrug it off or quietly say we can discuss it later,” he added.

Texas Congressman Michael Cloud expressed his belief that the actions against Shen Yun were part of a broader campaign by Beijing to exert influence in the United States. He asserted that the Chinese Communist Party has always sought to dominate America.

“These actions align with the intimidation strategies we have seen from the (Chinese Communist Party), which do not consider the moral principles that people should enjoy. This means they are willing to use any means necessary to achieve their political goals, regardless of infringing on others’ unalienable rights,” Cloud shared after the hearing.

“We want to see people thrive under principles of freedom, which have enabled America to prosper and remain free for centuries. We would like to see this situation replicated worldwide, but the goals of the Chinese Communist Party are not aligned with ours,” Cloud stated.

Norton stressed during questioning that Shen Yun was attacked by the Chinese Communist Party due to their faith.

She stated, “The Shen Yun artists are attacked in America because they practice Falun Gong.”

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice centered around the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that has faced severe persecution in China since 1999. Many artists of Shen Yun practice Falun Gong as a way to enhance themselves spiritually.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett inquired during the hearing how the Chinese Communist Party suppresses criticism of its human rights violations. Retired US Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding mentioned Falun Gong as an example.

“The (Chinese Communist Party) manipulates our own media. A good example is how they attack Falun Gong. They basically have convinced the entire American academic system that Falun Gong is a brainwashing cult. They’ve done the same with our media institutions. This is how they operate; they control our own narrative,” Spalding explained.

He argued that the Falun Gong community comprises “individuals who hold opposing views to the Chinese Communist Party regime.”

Before the Chinese Communist Party launched its persecution, Falun Gong had a widespread following in China, with an estimated one practitioner out of every 13 people.

Information obtained by Epoch Times in March indicated that reporters Michael Rothfeld and Nicole Hong from The New York Times had been preparing a report targeting Shen Yun Performing Arts for the past six months.

Communication records obtained by Epoch Times suggested that this planned article might be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party in their transnational suppression of the Falun Gong movement.

“The New York Times is solely targeting us and fabricating stories around very suspicious interviews,” Chen Ying, Deputy Director of the Shen Yun New York World Arts Group, told Epoch Times.

A report from the Falun Dafa Information Center in March highlighted The New York Times’ dismissal and downplaying of the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners. The report criticized The Times for lacking journalistic integrity, promoting dehumanizing propaganda against Falun Gong on behalf of the Chinese Communist regime, and possibly leading to loss of life due to distorted policy debates.

“The plight of victims not only receives silence and indifference but more destructively—when reporting on Falun Gong—the articles are filled with distorted facts and inaccurate information, as well as overt hostility, displaying shocking levels of unprofessionalism and bias,” the Falun Dafa Information Center wrote in a report on March 21.

In another incident on March 11, a Chinese-speaking official of the US Customs was accused of making discriminatory remarks against Shen Yun artists. The artists had just returned from a European tour and were preparing to perform in Rosemont, Illinois.

According to Teresa Du, the touring manager of the art group, Customs officer David Ho, who speaks Chinese with a mainland accent, made derogatory comments about her religious beliefs, labeling her as “illegal” due to her practices. Du is a Texas-born American citizen.

“They’re Falun Gong. They’re involved in politics. They’re illegal,” Ho reportedly told nearby colleagues, referring to Du and other Shen Yun artists.

Du stated that Ho repeatedly made these remarks, creating a hostile atmosphere.

A spokesperson for the Customs and Border Protection told Epoch Times that the agency strictly prohibits analyzing travelers based on their religious or spiritual beliefs and that the incident is still under investigation.

Responding to questions about the Chicago incident, Representative James Comer, the Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee from Kentucky, expressed deep concerns.

“We are concerned about their (Chinese Communist Party’s) infiltration into our military, into the Pentagon, into our intelligence community,” Comer stated during an interview with Epoch Times sister media, NTD, before hosting the April 17 hearing.

“Every agency is at risk,” Comer emphasized.

The House Oversight Committee began investigating the Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration into US government departments several weeks ago.

Comer stated that the investigation has so far shown that “few organizations recognize that China (the Chinese Communist Party) is a problem.”

Regarding Comer’s remarks, a Customs and Border Protection official told Epoch Times, “Currently, we do not have further information.”

Former Acting Chief of Staff at the US Department of Homeland Security, Scott Erickson, mentioned that the attacks against Shen Yun serve as a reminder for America to stay vigilant.

He told NTD in early April that the Chinese Communist Party was cunning and could exploit vulnerabilities in the United States.

“When they (Chinese Communist Party) see any kind of loophole, they will definitely exploit it,” Erickson noted.

Erickson highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party aggressively disseminates widespread false and misleading information in the US, initiating negative narratives and shaping public opinion before their opponents do.

Their work might be subtle, such as infiltrating narratives into the minds of government workers.

“One must recognize this fact: they will use all available means to advance their goals, but they will not play by the rules,” he stated.