Overseas media has released a new report revealing that during Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco in November last year, violent attacks on protesters by CCP supporters were orchestrated with the shadow of Chinese diplomats in the US.
The report found that the CCP, through local embassies, various united front organizations such as the Overseas Chinese Affairs Offices and student associations, increased monitoring and control of overseas Chinese, implemented transnational suppression, and suppressed the rights of overseas Chinese to exercise freedom of speech.
After a 6-month investigation, The Washington Post published a report on Tuesday, September 3, detailing the events in San Francisco, demonstrating how the CCP was willing to extend its intolerance of any dissent to the United States and target those exercising their First Amendment rights in American cities.
The US government and human rights organizations stated that this is part of a wider global pattern of actions taken by the CCP to suppress dissent against them beyond borders, exposing violations of human rights in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and mainland China by overseas Chinese dissidents.
The investigation by The Washington Post analyzed 2000 photos and 21 hours of video footage from the November activities, interviewed over 35 eyewitnesses, US officials, and analysts, and examined text messages from US security personnel working with Chinese diplomats, shared information within Chinese expat WeChat groups, as well as medical and police reports from various sources.
The Post confirmed that at least 4 Chinese diplomats were involved in the protest activities, two from the consulate in Los Angeles: Deputy Consul Li Chunlin (who left his post in July) and Consular Officer Shi Wei Meng. The other two, Kun Wang and Bo Yang, worked at the consulate in San Francisco, with Wang as Consul and Deputy Consulate Chief, and Yang as a member of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
These diplomats enjoy diplomatic immunity, protecting them from inquiries by the FBI regarding their alleged involvement in violent conflicts. A fifth consular officer, self-identified as Ning Guo, sent messages to security personnel hired by the Los Angeles consulate.
By reviewing WeChat group messages, it was revealed that the consulate in Los Angeles provided hotel accommodations and meals as compensation for those participating in pro-CCP activities.
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit protests, at least 35 pro-CCP Chinese expatriate groups were present, including groups from New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.
According to 7 organizers, Chinese diplomats hired at least 60 private security personnel to “protect” the gathering of Chinese expatriate groups welcoming Xi Jinping at APEC.
During the investigation, spokespersons from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, as well as consulates in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, issued similar statements via email, claiming that Chinese community members “voluntarily” went to San Francisco to welcome Xi Jinping, only to face “multiple provocations and violent incidents.”
The report found that while both sides engaged in aggressive behavior, the most extreme violence was instigated by pro-CCP activists, executed by coordinated groups of young men.
The Post’s investigation also identified 32 overseas Chinese leaders who supported these pro-CCP groups, many of whom have ties to Chinese authorities.
Lu Qiang, founder of the Southern California Chinese Community Federation, organized 20 buses, booked 400 hotel rooms, and coordinated 800 individuals to welcome Xi Jinping at APEC using resources from his travel agency.