A film festival dedicated to independent Chinese cinema was abruptly shut down after filmmakers and organizers faced harassment from Chinese authorities, a recent escalation of what experts are calling “transnational repression.” The festival, planned for New York City in late October, was targeted with pressure that extended beyond China’s borders, forcing its cancellation just a week before its launch.
Expanding Reach of Repression
Zhu Rikun, the festival’s director, initially believed logistical issues could be resolved. However, he soon realized the situation was far more serious. Thirteen Chinese filmmakers cancelled their trips, and Zhu received requests to withdraw the majority of the 45 films in the program – even those lacking overt political themes. These included a documentary about a couple coping with a child’s leukemia, a fictional film about pandemic-era job loss, and a feature film centered on a couple’s everyday conversation during a long walk.
“In the end, I found that as long as the film festival continued, many people were still being harassed,” Zhu told the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. He stated, “Their message was quite clear: They wanted to stop the film festival from taking place.”
This incident is part of a broader trend of transnational repression, where Chinese and Hong Kong authorities – and their proxies – are increasingly attempting to coerce, control, or silence critics living abroad, extending their reach into countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. The U.N. and the European Parliament have identified China as a leading perpetrator of this practice, alongside Russia and Iran.
International Response and Concerns
The growing threat has prompted some response from democratic nations. Following the publication of the ICIJ’s China Targets investigation earlier this year, officials have announced reforms aimed at addressing foreign interference. In April, the U.N. published its first-ever guidelines on transnational repression, and in November, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging EU member states to confront these efforts.
However, critics argue that the response remains insufficient. Philippe Dam, advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, noted, “Indeed the attention is growing…That should not hide the fact that the EU’s response, foreign policy response, remains too limited, while the domestic responses remain quite inexistent.”
Recent cases highlight the risks faced by individuals. Zhang Yadi, a Tibetan rights activist in France, and Hu Yang, a student in the Netherlands, were both detained upon returning to China, allegedly for speaking out against the regime. These incidents suggest that Chinese authorities were conducting surveillance on these individuals while they lived abroad.
The U.N. as a Target
The issue extends even to international organizations like the U.N. ICIJ’s investigation revealed that Beijing has created a hostile environment for critics of President Xi Jinping at the U.N.’s Palais des Nations in Geneva, with reports of surveillance, harassment, and intimidation. A recent documentary by Yle, a Finnish broadcaster, confirmed these findings, revealing that a Chinese military spy worked within the Chinese U.N. mission in Geneva and allegedly attempted to obtain NATO secrets.
Zumretay Arkin, vice president of the World Uyghur Congress, shared her own experiences, stating, “We’ve been followed by Chinese diplomats from the mission itself…and our family members were retaliated against because of our presence in that [U.N.] space and our work.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is transnational repression?
Transnational repression refers to authoritarian states’ efforts to reach beyond their borders to silence, control, or coerce critics and dissidents who have sought refuge in other countries.
What tactics are being used in these cases?
Tactics include harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and even detention of individuals upon their return to China, as well as pressure on family members still residing in China. The use of proxies and infiltration of international organizations are also reported.
Is the U.N. doing anything to address this issue?
The U.N. published its first-ever guidelines on transnational repression in April. However, advocates argue that more concrete action is needed to protect individuals and address the issue within U.N. premises.
As international awareness of transnational repression grows, will democratic nations implement effective safeguards to protect critics and uphold the principles of freedom of expression and independent thought?
