September 13, 2025, Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano and his wife Rebbie being interviewed at the Magnolia Women’s Center in Philadelphia. (Zheng Hao / The Dajiyuan)
[People News] Last Saturday (September 13), Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano, while visiting the Magnolia Women’s Center in Philadelphia, expressed deep concern about the CCP’s escalating transnational repression and strongly criticized plans by some Chinese organizations to hold a CCP flag-raising ceremony in front of Philadelphia City Hall on September 30.
Growing Concerns over CCP’s Transnational Repression
In an interview with The Dajiyuan, Senator Mastriano emphasized that the CCP’s human rights abuses are not confined within China.
“First of all, inside China, we see them persecuting Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, and Muslims, among other groups, with extremely high-handed measures. Under the communist system, people worship the government, not God.”
The senator pointed out that the CCP’s repression is increasingly spreading overseas.
“Now we see a second layer—the CCP is persecuting people overseas. This is a big problem. If there are covert agencies acting as CCP agents or secret police, they must be expelled from our country immediately,” he told The Dajiyuan.
His concerns align with investigations by the Falun Dafa Information Center and The Dajiyuan. The so-called “overseas secret police stations” linked to the CCP are used to monitor and intimidate overseas Chinese communities.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice charged two men in New York City with allegedly operating a secret police station, confirming Beijing’s attempts to threaten dissidents and silence them.
The CCP’s methods have also targeted overseas Falun Gong practitioners. Reports show that CCP consulates pressured local officials to cancel Falun Gong events; some practitioners were harassed or threatened after publicly exposing the persecution; theaters hosting Shen Yun performances received bomb threats, among other incidents.
September 13, 2025, Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano (center) and his wife Rebbie (to the left of the senator) with pastors and community leaders gathering at the Magnolia Women’s Center in Philadelphia. Senator Mastriano issued a warning about CCP overseas activities and opposed the planned flag-raising ceremony of the CCP in front of Philadelphia City Hall on September 30. (Liang Kerin / The Dajiyuan)
Opposition to Raising the CCP Flag
When asked about the planned flag-raising ceremony in Philadelphia by some Chinese organizations, Mastriano was shocked and displeased:
“I didn’t know about this—this is really a stupid and terrible idea. Do you know what that flag represents!”
He stressed that the symbolism of the CCP flag carries deep historical wounds:
“Raising a red flag over Philadelphia has no positive meaning. It would make people forget the Cultural Revolution and the nearly 100 million people who died in various persecutions after the Communist Party came to power…”
Mastriano believes that for Chinese Americans who fled CCP persecution, this flag-raising ceremony sends a disturbing message.
“This is an insult to Chinese Americans who fled persecution and came to our country seeking freedom.” He said that for many Chinese Americans, the CCP flag represents a regime that persecuted their families and imprisoned their relatives.
His wife, Rebbie Mastriano, also expressed the same concern, calling on religious groups to respond with prayer.
“I think this is terrible, and honestly, at least from my perspective as Doug’s wife, I would tell people I know to pray—pray that such a thing won’t happen, pray that we can make a difference,” she told The Dajiyuan.
Call for Vigilance Against CCP Infiltration
Senator Mastriano stated that Pennsylvania legislators have ways to stop CCP infiltration.
“We can take action in the Senate. We can issue resolutions or pass laws prohibiting communist activities in our state.”
He warned that the CCP is exerting broader influence in the United States.
“Some cultural exchanges, dance performances, and other activities we see are actually cover-ups, while communist, Marxist, and Maoist ideologies operate behind the scenes. We must be very careful in choosing whom we allow to enter the United States.” Mastriano also listed some individuals and espionage activities linked to the CCP.
Human rights organizations have pointed out that Beijing’s overseas repression is part of the CCP’s global infiltration model.
The NGO Freedom House described the CCP as “the most comprehensive, sophisticated, and far-reaching authoritarian influence apparatus in the world.” From threatening the relatives of Uyghur Muslims, to forcing Chinese students abroad to serve the CCP, to spreading disinformation campaigns aimed at shaping Western narratives, the CCP’s activities reflect its broad control strategies.
Senator Mastriano stated his position clearly:
“If you are spying on behalf of Communist China, get out of our country!”
(The Dajiyuan reporters Liang Kerin and Zheng Hao reporting from Philadelphia)
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