Last Sunday afternoon, multiple human rights and democracy groups gathered in front of the Los Angeles consulate to jointly hold a rally in support of Taiwan’s recall movement, while also reminding Taiwan’s people and government to uphold the island’s democratic freedoms and not to trust any promises from the Chinese Communist Party.
Protesters on site chanted slogans such as “Taiwan, keep fighting,” “Say no to communism, protect Taiwan,” “Reject unification by force,” “Support President Lai Ching-te,” and “Taiwan’s freedom and democracy cannot tolerate the threats from the Communist Party.” They expressed staunch support for Taiwan’s democratic system and protested against the infiltration and disruption of Taiwanese society by the CCP. The rally featured the playing of the “National Flag Anthem of the Republic of China” and a flag-raising ceremony.
The protest was organized jointly by the China Democracy Party International Alliance, “Awakening New Generation,” Chinese Social Democratic Party, Hong Kong Democracy Front, International Human Rights Focus Group, and the China Anti-Political Persecution Alliance.
The organizer, Fan Yinglong, mentioned that the event took place at a time when the CCP’s threats to Taiwan, united front tactics, and espionage activities are increasingly rampant; he urged overseas Chinese to stand on the side of freedom and democracy and to guard against the harm the CCP could bring to Taiwan’s future.
Invited guest speaker Wei Yiming, Executive Committee member of the Los Angeles branch of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), expressed gratitude for the long-standing advocacy efforts of the China Democracy Party International Alliance in supporting Taiwan’s quest for freedom and sovereignty.
Wei Yiming pointed out that many members of the China Democracy Party, including the chairman Jielijian, have personally experienced suppression and persecution by the CCP regime, giving them firsthand experience in recognizing and exposing the CCP’s tactics of information control, opinion manipulation, and brainwashing propaganda.
He believed that amidst the increasingly severe challenges Taiwan faces from the CCP’s united front and information warfare, the democratic forces among the Chinese mainland populace are playing crucial roles as advocates and warners. Their experiences can help Taiwanese people better understand the nature of the CCP and resist the insidious rhetoric wrapped in “peaceful exchanges.”
Wei Yiming revealed that the CCP’s methods of undermining Taiwanese society are diverse and deeply rooted, extending beyond propaganda and economic united front strategies to infiltrating grassroots levels. Many pro-Beijing figures have become key nodes in the CCP’s infiltration, posing serious threats to grassroots democracy.
Through a video link, James Leung, the chairman of the “Hong Kong Council” from Vancouver, shared his personal journey from exile in Hong Kong to resettling in Canada. He issued a warning, saying, “Today’s Hong Kong could be tomorrow’s Taiwan.” He also declared his aspirations, asserting, “We aim to overturn and subvert your regime, ending the CCP’s autocratic rule.”
Jielijian stated in his speech that Taiwan holds crucial significance as a “fortress of freedom” for the Chinese community worldwide. He urged global Chinese populations to unite against the CCP’s totalitarian oppression; the deteriorating human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong should serve as a warning to Taiwanese people. He believed that the failure of the recall vote in Taiwan demonstrates that more Taiwanese are awakening to the fact that resisting communism is the only way forward, which is “also the result the CCP fears most.”
For over seven decades, the CCP has maintained a dictatorial tyranny, initiating numerous political movements that have led to the loss of countless lives of Chinese citizens in peaceful settings.
Organizer Su Yifeng described the plight of the Chinese people under CCP rule as being “slaves, cattle, leeks, human mines, and organ components.” He stated that the Chinese people have demonstrated whether communism is truly good or not, and the people of Hong Kong have shown whether the so-called “one country, two systems” is reliable or not. “Under the clutches of the Communist bandits, we can’t even breathe freely,” he said, emphasizing that “losing freedom only takes a moment, but fighting for freedom requires a lifetime, even the sacrifice of several generations.”
Democratic activist Zheng Yonghua from Guangdong drove over six hours from San Francisco to participate in the event. He emphasized that the failure of the Taiwan recall vote is closely related to the influence of social platforms controlled by the CCP, such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin; he also pointed out that CCP agents have infiltrated Taiwan’s internal affairs. Zheng Yonghua called for global Chinese populations to recognize the reality of pervasive CCP intelligence agents worldwide and to unite in resistance against tyranny.
Having studied in the United States for over a decade, Zhou Zhongke stated that the CCP has slowly eroded Taiwan’s democratic foundation through information warfare, cognitive battles, and economic infiltration. He observed that the stances of some Taiwanese politicians are increasingly resembling echoing the CCP’s narrative, which should be a cause for concern.
In his speech, Zhou Zhongke reminded that the CCP’s information infiltration is highly deceptive, requiring constant vigilance to maintain clarity of mind.
“Our social media platforms are our arenas of discourse, and democracy isn’t won through silence. Speaking out on your views on freedom and the rule of law is a way to resist tyranny,” Zhou Zhongke suggested. “Connect more, reciprocate, and share, interact with democratic communities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, overseas, or in local areas, rather than fighting alone.”
He believed that achieving freedom and democracy requires enduring a “long process of resistance,” and stated, “Even as a Chinese (mainlander), I choose to stand on the side of historical correctness.”