Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid Association, has warned that the Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping’s (習近平) leadership is intensifying its efforts to suppress dissent both domestically and internationally.
Speaking about his own experiences in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Fu, who led students during the Tiananmen Square protests, described the persistent harassment he has faced from the CCP in the US. Fu commented that the CCP’s repression is not limited to China but extends globally, targeting those who speak out regardless of their location.
Fu highlighted the CCP’s long history of suppressing religious freedom and human rights, which he said has worsened under Xi’s leadership. He pointed to the regime’s escalating hostility toward fundamental rights, citing efforts to prevent then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul from recognizing the detention of China’s mostly Muslim Uyghur community.
Fu also referenced the conviction of Wang Shujun (王書君), who was found guilty of spying on Chinese dissidents in the US, and allegations against Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, for similar activities.
Beyond espionage, Fu said the CCP’s global campaign of intimidation includes direct threats to individuals. He recalled how his own family was subjected to physical threats and stalking in Texas, prompting intervention from the FBI.
Recent protests during Xi’s visit to San Francisco also underscored these concerns. Fu said pro-CCP groups, with reported support from Chinese consulates, orchestrated attacks on dissidents.
He commented that these actions reflect the CCP’s disregard for international norms and its willingness to suppress beliefs outside of China.
In response to growing concerns, US lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at countering transnational repression. Representatives August Pfluger, Gabe Evans, and Seth Magaziner have proposed bills to establish task forces and provide resources for victims of foreign harassment.
Fu welcomed these measures but stressed the need for greater public awareness of the CCP’s tactics. He hoped that these legislative efforts would pass but cautioned that legal measures alone would not be enough.
He said that for decades, the US has been a place where people could live without fear of government-backed intimidation. However, for many Chinese Americans, that sense of security is beginning to erode.
Drawing historical parallels, Fu noted that during the Cold War, the US would not have tolerated Soviet operatives intimidating religious-freedom activists or attacking Russian dissidents on American soil. “Nor should we now.”