The United Front: China's Great Global Campaign of Repression

A joint report issued by the Democracy Council and Students for a Free Tibet is the focus of this second in a series on China's "united front" activities. The joint report is entitled "Exporting Repression: Attacks on Protesters During Xi Jinping's Visit to San Francisco in November 2023." It contains detailed accounts of how the Chinese government set out to attack its "enemies" on United States soil. 

Second in a series

Read the first part: The United Front: How China Manages its Hall of Mirrors

Xi Jinping's San Francisco Celebration

President Xi Jinping journeyed to San Francisco to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC USA. Leaders or alternative representatives from 20 nations and territories participated from November 11-17, 2023. It was hosted by President Joe Biden, whose guests included Xi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin could not attend. He was constrained by an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court. 

The simultaneous presence of all these leaders presented a tremendous security challenge for the local police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as the security staff of the dignitaries themselves. An estimated 25,000 police officers were mobilized to ensure adequate security. 

Competing demonstrations that began before the summit started complicated police security efforts. Dissidents saw this as an opportunity to protest Xi's visit and repression of democracy advocates and ethnic minorities within China. 

China's "united front" was fully prepared, however. Pro-Beijing groups bussed in hundreds of demonstrators from around the US. There were, of course, many other people in the crowd who turned out to greet Xi.

Inside-Outside Reality Gap

The National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council hosted a fantastic gala dinner on November 15. Prominent political leaders and CEOs of companies doing large-scale business in China gathered for the Hyatt Regency Hotel event. Notably,  the heads of Tesla, BlackRock, Apple, the Blackstone Group, Boeing, and KKR were seated at Xi's table. 

According to Reuters, America's corporate chieftains were so thrilled to see Xi in person that they gave him a standing ovation. CCTV and other Chinese propaganda outlets reported the event with great enthusiasm.

Outside the dinner venue, there was no such bonhomie, however. Members of organizations affiliated with the Chinese government, some wielding metal poles, sought to harass and violently intimidate critics demonstrating against Xi's visit. Their actions were directed at Hong Kong Democracy activists, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among others. At least eight demonstrators were reportedly manhandled there.

Chronicling China's 'United Front' Inside America

A detailed, chronological narrative of 34 cases is at the heart of the report. They include harassment, intimidation, and assault that occurred during Xi's November visit. Twenty-seven witnesses provided testimony, buttressed by video and photographs. 

The report also describes the involvement of a "united front" network within the United States. This network is mobilized when called upon by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In most cases, evidence was uncovered in reporting by Chinese-language media and on websites of Party organs or united front groups.

As the report succinctly puts it: "Dozens of protesters were harassed, intimidated, and assaulted. These attacks were conducted by CCP supporters or those acting on their behalf in what appeared to be an organized and coordinated manner. Leaders of united front groups in the US that have been linked to the CCP were involved in the attacks."

What is the United Front?

As noted in the first article in this series, the CCP seeks to control communities in the Chinese diaspora. They do this by cultivating support and loyalty for the PRC and the Party through "united front" activities. In this case, the "united front" is a concept that transcends a unified structure or mechanism. Rather, its work is conducted by both directly controlled Party organs and informally associated overseas groups.

The United Front Work Department within the CCP's Central Committee has overall responsibility for overseas united front operations. However, it is supplemented by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC). ACFROC is the main organ responsible for relations with overseas Chinese. 

PRC embassies and consulates around the world also play a key role in cultivating ties with overseas groups. Nevertheless, Chinese officials generally prefer to maintain a façade of non-involvement and guide from the shadows. 

In a majority of cases, overseas Chinese groups are not directly controlled by the PRC. They may be cultural, student, business or community organizations, or associations of people who came from the same province. Even hometown groups, with no overt interest in politics, are part of it. The ideal outcome for united front workers is to influence them in such a manner that they will advance China's foreign policy goals without even being aware of it. 

The CCP also goes to great lengths to hide its links to more overtly pro-Beijing organizations. That includes those groups involved in the violence during Xi's visit. They must be made to appear self-mobilized.

Targeting Human Rights and Democracy Activists

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of PRC supporters, including Chinese students, were transported to San Francisco from throughout the US to give Xi a royal welcome. Moreover, their transportation and accommodations were apparently paid for. Some of the organizations involved also have close ties to Chinese consulates. 

It should be stressed that most of these individuals did not participate in the violence that followed. However, certain groups set out to prevent demonstrators critical of Xi from being seen or heard. 

Megaphones were used to drown out the protestors. Unmarked white trucks delivered enormous flagpoles and PRC flags to these CCP supporters. Those served the purpose of hiding groups of anti-Xi protestors and their placards. 

Some in the pro-PRC crowd also used the flagpoles to poke, stab, or hit the demonstrators, several of whom were injured. They also sought to take away or destroy the anti-Xi demonstrators' signs. Tibetans and Uyghurs appear to have been singled out for especially rough treatment. 

Organized Violence

There were several protest demonstrations and marches throughout the city during Xi's stay. Nevertheless, the violence appeared far from spontaneous. Instead, it tended to occur near locations where Xi actually went, such as the airport. 

For example, at the airport, CCP supporters surrounded a group of Tibetan protestors. The CCP supporters sought to prevent the others from being visible to Xi's motorcade. Black-suited security guards were also on hand to clear space for members of the pro-Xi crowd.

Separately, men in black tracksuits were spotted at various locations in the city. Apparently, they reported back to superiors on what the dissident "troublemakers" were up to. Prominent dissidents appear to have been singled out for harassment or attacks. In some cases, their phones were stolen, no doubt to be gifted to Chinese public security. 

Many protestors interviewed for the report stated that they "had the impression that the actions of CCP supporters were orchestrated and coordinated to a high degree." 

Characteristics of the Violent Attacks

The leaders of regional united front-affiliated groups, such as the Oregon Association for the Promotion of the Peaceful Unification of China, were often seen at spots where trouble developed. Furthermore, some of those known leaders participated directly in the violence. One was seen at the scenes of five separate incidents. 

Specifically, the authors of the report identified the following common characteristics for several of the attacks.

1. Attack on solitary and isolated protesters by a group of CCP supporters.
2. Swarming a victim by multiple CCP supporters.
3. Using PRC flags to obscure the attacks.
4. Using flagpoles as weapons to hit and stab protesters.
5. Heightened aggression and violence when Xi Jinping was believed to be in the vicinity. This was apparently to ensure that he could not see any signs of protest. And,
6. The presence of an apparent leader, often wearing an earpiece, who appeared to be directing the CCP supporters.

Some of the most vicious attacks occurred outside the Hyatt Regency where Xi was being toasted. For example, 10 to 15 men set upon four Tibetan activists in a parking garage across from the hotel. 

Hong Kong and Tibetan protestors were also attacked in a protest zone specifically set aside for them across from the hotel. In addition, they were attacked when leaving the area. Stalkers followed protestors after they had finished protesting in other cases.

In most cases, the assailants made no effort to disguise themselves. And in fact, several wore jackets with their association names on them. 

Policing the Violence

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the report was the general lack of response on the part of the police In many cases, local law enforcement officers, some of whom had been brought in from the Greater San Francisco area, stood by and did nothing as protestors were attacked. Or they refused to get involved when asked for help. 

The problem did not appear due to any animus towards the demonstrators. Rather, the police did not understand what was going on. Of course, federal authorities such as the FBI were well aware of the threat of transnational repression. However, local police, even in major cities, had received little or no training to deal with the problem. 

According to Freedom House, "China conducts the most sophisticated, global, and comprehensive campaign of transnational repression in the world… The sheer breadth and global scale of the campaign is unparalleled."

Who are the groups targeted by the CCP among overseas Chinese and minority communities? They are ethnic and religious minorities, political dissidents, human rights activists, journalists and former Party insiders. China uses a full spectrum of tactics to go after its enemies, including pressuring foreign countries to detain and render exiles. 

If it can happen in San Francisco, it can happen in Japan. 

Coming next: Borrowing Foreign 'Lips and Faces' for the Party

RELATED:

• EDITORIAL | Xi Jinping in US Asserts Ambition to Dominate Indo-Pacific
• Kishida, Xi Seek Stability on the Side of APEC
• China's Iron Grip on Tibet a Scathing Indictment of Religious Repression
  
  

Author: John Carroll
John Carroll is a Kyoto-based freelance writer and JAPAN Forward contributor. He is currently writing a book on the religious traditions and superstitions of Japan's ancient capital. And watch JAPAN Forward for the next installment of his series on the CCP's United Front.