In a latest report released by a democratic advocacy organization, it was revealed that during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco last year, a significant number of pro-China individuals attacked protesters and activists, leading to one person experiencing hearing loss. The report emphasizes the urgent need for the United States to implement effective measures to curb China’s transnational repression.
On Tuesday, the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) and the Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) jointly published a comprehensive 160-page report. The report documented cross-border repression actions by pro-China individuals against protesters during the visit of the Chinese Communist Party leader to the United States.
The report highlighted 34 instances of harassment, intimidation, and physical assault, with many cases involving multiple victims, including bystanders attempting to stop the attackers.
Among the incidents recorded, dozens of protesters were harassed or assaulted during the Chinese Communist Party leader’s visit to San Francisco. Protester Wang Wei stated he was surrounded and attacked by pro-China individuals, leading to injuries from a metal flagpole. Video evidence provided by Wang Wei showed the attackers brandishing large Chinese national flags while committing the violence, attempting to obstruct others from recording the events.
Protester Hu Tingfeng, along with two others, was attacked, with one of them being pushed to the ground and having their head stepped on, resulting in bleeding from the ear and a 10% hearing loss in the left ear. A non-Asian bystander who tried to intervene to protect the protester was also hit on the head with a glass bottle, causing significant bleeding and requiring stitches for a one-and-a-half-inch laceration on the head.
Other protesters reported that pro-China individuals forcibly took their belongings, verbally abused them with obscenities, and some were even knocked unconscious and required medical attention.
The report’s authors indicated that evidence suggests the pro-China individuals received free transportation and accommodation while in San Francisco. These individuals primarily came from New York, Southern California, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area.
The researchers wrote, “These attacks were carried out by individuals believed to be supporters of the Chinese Communist Party or acting on their behalf in what appeared to be a coordinated manner. Leaders of United Front groups affiliated with the CCP in the United States also participated in these attacks.”
The report stated, “Their actions created an omnipresent atmosphere of intimidation, not only deterring protests during Xi Jinping’s stay, but also interfering with protesters’ right to freedom of speech.”
Protesters mentioned in the report testified that their family members in China were previously intimidated before the Chinese Communist Party leader’s visit to the United States. Activist Yao Cheng, residing in the United States, shared that his daughter was summoned to the Anhui Public Security Bureau office and instructed to dissuade him from participating in protests in San Francisco.
The evidence used in the report was primarily based on interviews with 26 protesters and one journalist, most of whom were victims of harassment, intimidation, and assault.
Furthermore, researchers collected photo and video evidence, media reports, and social media posts, using open-source research and facial recognition technology to identify those involved in the attacks.
“We have identified some groups and individuals who belong to the CCP’s United Front organizations,” the report pointed out, “This indicates evidence that they are connected to CCP organs, officials, or representatives and have taken actions consistent with the Party’s agenda.”
The cases documented in the report primarily involved American citizens and residents as victims. However, when victims reported the assaults to the San Francisco police, they seemed to be disregarded, with no perpetrators arrested to date.
The report highlighted that while the US federal government considers combating transnational repression by the CCP a top priority, the awareness and preparedness of law enforcement in San Francisco appeared to be lacking.
The report presented 18 recommendations to the White House, relevant federal agencies, Congress, state and local authorities, among others.
These recommendations included urging the US to investigate whether CCP United Front organizations had violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act by acting as unregistered agents of the Chinese government. Additionally, the report suggested conducting extra scrutiny on diplomatic visas issued to individuals from China and screening applicants related to transnational repression activities.
Furthermore, the report proposed providing protection for groups experiencing transnational repression on US soil, expediting asylum cases, and upgrading the existing Deferred Enforced Departure program for Hong Kong residents in the US to Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Researchers also stated that the US should pass legislation to allocate resources to combat CCP transnational repression, such as the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act (H.R. 3654/S.831), the Stop Oppressive Acts (H.R. 5907), the 2024 Transnational Repression Deterrence Act (H.R. 7443), and the Enhancing State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act (H.R. 7439).
On Wednesday, the US House Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar responded, “The attacks on human rights activists by the CCP during General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco in November last year were a violent violation of American sovereignty and the values we hold dear. Such atrocities, known as transnational repression, have no place in the United States.”
Moolenaar expressed gratitude to HKDC and SFT for reporting these incidents and urged the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“Congress must also take action to empower law enforcement with more tools to prosecute these crimes. We cannot allow the CCP to bring its Orwellian authoritarian control model onto American soil,” he concluded.