[People News] At the boundary between freedom and fear, distance is not always the best protection. As technology advances and authoritarianism expands, many Chinese citizens living in Europe and the United States have discovered that even while overseas, their actions still cannot escape the Chinese Communist Party’s surveillance and intimidation. Yet this cross-border repression, intended to crush the will, has in some dissidents produced an unexpected counterforce: anger has replaced silence, and courage has overcome fear.

Surveillance behind an ordinary family phone call

The story begins with what seemed to be a warm family phone call. A scientist living on the east coast of the United States received a call from her father in China. But on the other end of the line was not only the longing of a loved one, but also the state’s cold machine of surveillance. At the time, police were in her father’s office, orally dictating the details of their questioning on the spot and ordering her to log into her social media account.

Her offense was extremely minor — months earlier, she had anonymously signed an online petition criticizing the government. Even though she had been extraordinarily cautious, her real identity was still traced. In that moment, shock and disbelief surged through her, and the only thing she could think was: “How do I protect my parents?”

But what followed was a kind of determination born of being cornered. This scientist did not fall silent as the police expected. Instead, she decided to publicly share the experience online. This is precisely the kind of “backfire” Beijing fears most, because once secret threats are forced into the open, the power of intimidation instantly weakens.

The systematized methods of transnational repression

Human rights groups say that among all authoritarian governments, China has become the most aggressive state in the world in carrying out “transnational repression.” This repression is no longer limited to traditional assassination or kidnapping, but has evolved into an increasingly refined system of harassment:

First is the “hostage-ization of family members,” using threats and harassment against relatives still in China to apply pressure, even restricting the domestic family members’ ability to leave the country. This kind of pressure aimed at emotional weak points is extremely destructive. Second is “digital surveillance,” as Beijing uses private security contractors such as I-Soon to conduct cyber reconnaissance on overseas critics. Finally, there is “community surveillance,” inciting overseas students or Chinese expatriates to monitor and report on one another, leaving dissidents feeling isolated and helpless even in foreign lands.

“Patriotic duty” under the Xi Jinping era

Under Xi Jinping’s strong leadership, the reach of this repression has extended to ordinary professionals. A chemical engineer working in California revealed that police had contacted him through WeChat, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone: “Even if you are in America, as a Chinese citizen, you still have the duty to maintain the good image of the country.”

After the engineer refused to shut down his YouTube and X accounts, the police turned to threatening his father. But what the police did not expect was that this unreasonable harassment actually helped the engineer overcome his hesitation. He said: “It instead made me even more determined to speak out more frequently.” For these younger generations deeply shaped by Western ideas of freedom, the irrationality of authoritarian power often becomes the best catalyst for resistance.

Rebuilding after breaking: the price of going public

Choosing to resist does not come without a cost. Li Shixiang, a 24-year-old law student studying in London, saw his domestic collaborator, lawyer Xie Yang, arrested and detained in China in early 2022. (According to the U.S.-based organization Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Xie Yang remains in detention and has still not been tried.) As a result, Li resolutely chose to go public with his identity and participate in rights advocacy. Although he gained inner freedom, he also had to face accusations of “treason” from relatives and friends, which at one point left him mentally shattered.

Another 26-year-old graduate student, Ma Kai, described fear of the system as a “parasite” living in one’s bones, leaving a person paralyzed and unable to speak. Only after he decided to become an open dissident did he feel that he had rid himself of that fear.

Conclusion: the formation of another reality

When confronted with questions from the international community, the Chinese Communist Party authorities have always maintained a consistent response: calling these accusations “malicious slander” and insisting that they are committed to protecting the safety of citizens. However, as more and more scientists, engineers, and students come forward to share their personal experiences, a completely new reality is taking shape.

Beijing may be able to threaten individual safety, but it cannot stop the chemical reaction by which “oppression is transformed into strength.” When repression crosses national borders, it also crosses the final line of endurance in the hearts of many people. Despite facing threats to themselves and their families, overseas dissidents continue to advocate for human rights and freedom of speech, demonstrating the resilience and courage of those who challenge authoritarian regimes. Their actions also prove that truth and courage are not limited by borders.

(Based on a key-summary translation of NBC News reporter Mo Abbas’s report titled “The Chinese government tried to silence them. It backfired.”)

(First published by People News)
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