In November, during Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, protests erupted, showcasing a disturbing trend of Chinese influence extending beyond its borders. As reported by The Washington Post, this event starkly illustrated the lengths to which China’s Communist Party (CCP) will go to stifle dissent, even in a country where freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment.
The Post’s six-month investigation revealed how Chinese diplomats and pro-CCP diaspora groups, some with longstanding ties to Beijing, organized demonstrations that sought to suppress anti-CCP protesters, often through violence. These actions reflect a global pattern in which China attempts to silence its critics, whether they are advocating for Tibet, Hong Kong, or addressing human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Extending Control Beyond Borders
One of the key takeaways from The Post’s investigation is that China’s influence abroad is expanding. While the CCP’s efforts to intimidate and spy on its diaspora have long been noted, the San Francisco protests demonstrate the party’s increasingly bold attempts to suppress dissidents overseas. According to interviews with witnesses, U.S. officials, and analysts, and after reviewing over 2,000 photos and videos, it became evident that Chinese officials played a direct role in inciting violence and organizing pro-CCP protests.
The CCP relies heavily on groups like the United Front Work Department, which uses non-state actors to advance China’s political interests overseas. These groups blur the line between civilians and state officials, fostering a network that can quickly be mobilized when the party’s image is at stake. As a result, protests against Beijing’s policies are met with counter-demonstrations, often involving physical confrontations aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Violence on the Streets of San Francisco
During Xi’s visit, protests turned violent. Anti-CCP demonstrators, many advocating for Tibet and Hong Kong, were attacked with flagpoles, chemical sprays, and even fists full of sand. Videos captured coordinated groups of young men, some masked, engaging in these violent acts. One notable incident involved a 51-year-old Chinese man, Zhang Kaiyu, and his two friends. After expressing their opposition to Xi, they were followed and beaten, leaving Zhang unconscious and hospitalized with a concussion.
According to The Post, much of the violence was incited by pro-CCP activists. Some were paid by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, which covered their hotel and meal expenses as incentives to participate in these protests. At least 35 pro-CCP diaspora groups traveled from across the U.S. to San Francisco, overwhelming anti-Xi demonstrators in sheer numbers. Over four days of protests, Chinese diplomats from consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco were seen interacting with these aggressive groups.
“We were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the pro-CCP people everywhere we went,” Zhang remarked after his attack, underscoring the atmosphere of intimidation created by the pro-CCP crowd.
Diplomatic Involvement
The investigation also revealed the involvement of Chinese diplomats in organizing these violent confrontations. Videos showed four diplomats among the crowd, directing security guards and diaspora leaders. Some diplomats even hired private security to protect the pro-CCP demonstrators, but instead of acting as neutral parties, these guards were often instructed to intervene on behalf of the CCP supporters.
Despite the violence, Chinese officials denied their involvement. In a statement to The Post, Chinese diplomats insisted that their supporters were the victims of “provocations and violence” and dismissed allegations as “political maneuvering.”
A Broader Pattern of Repression
What happened in San Francisco is not an isolated incident. China’s use of overseas groups to stifle dissent is part of a broader strategy of transnational repression. This is a methodical effort to silence those critical of the CCP, even on foreign soil. Glenn Tiffert, a researcher at the Hoover Institution, notes, “The tactics differ, but the goal is the same: to isolate, bury, and extinguish dissent so that [the CCP] monopolizes the field.”
These efforts to control the narrative extend beyond physical confrontations. At various points during Xi’s visit, pro-CCP protesters tore down anti-CCP banners and replaced them with Chinese flags, especially in areas where Xi might have seen them, creating the impression that the diaspora overwhelmingly supports him.
Implications for U.S.-China Relations
Xi’s visit was meant to signal a warming of relations between the U.S. and China, his first to the United States in six years. However, the violent confrontations in San Francisco show a different side of the CCP’s agenda. U.S. officials have condemned these efforts as “transnational repression” and raised concerns directly with Beijing. The FBI is investigating the violence at the APEC summit, underscoring the seriousness of these incidents.
As Beijing continues to assert its influence abroad, even in democratic countries, the question remains: how will the United States and other Western nations respond to these increasingly bold acts of repression? As The Washington Post investigation reveals, China’s reach is growing, and its willingness to suppress dissent knows no borders.