China’s Political Repression Expands Beyond Its Borders, HRW Reports

China's government is trying to control people not just in China but also in other countries. Reports from Human Rights Watch show that officials are intimidating Chinese citizens living in Japan. This is especially true for ethnic minorities from Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is a group based in New York that looks into human rights issues around the world. They talked to 25 people from Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and other parts of China who now live in Japan. These people said they got warnings from Chinese police. 

[Stand With Hong Kong protest in Tokyo, Japan, on 9 June 2024 (Getty)]

Sometimes, these warnings came through their family members who still live in China.

The warnings were meant to stop them from protesting against the Chinese government or doing anything that the government sees as “bad for China.” 

These citizens had organized events to raise awareness about the Uyghur minority and to promote Tibetan culture. They also held discussions with Mongolian activists. However, the Chinese government sees these activities, even if they happen outside China, as a threat to its power.

Teppei Kasai, who works for HRW, said, “Chinese authorities seem to have no problem silencing people from China living in Japan who speak out against Beijing’s actions.” He also said that Japan should make it clear to China that it won’t allow this kind of intimidation.

One person explained that they stopped taking part in political activities after getting a call from Chinese authorities in 2024. This shows how scared many people are about their safety and freedom in Japan.

Many Uyghurs from Xinjiang also shared similar stories. They received messages from Chinese authorities through their family or on WeChat, telling them to stop their anti-China activities or share information about the Uyghur community in Japan.

A person from Taiwan, who was involved in activism related to Hong Kong, also talked about their experience. 

While in another country, they got several invitations from the Chinese embassy to come and “pick up important documents.” They refused these offers, worried that they could be arrested or face consequences for their activism.

People who criticize the Chinese government have long said that it uses threats to silence anyone who speaks out. They believe that China wants to scare others into keeping quiet. These new reports show that China is trying to control its citizens even when they are living far away.

In recent years, many wealthy Chinese have moved to Japan because they are unhappy with China’s government and economy. By the end of 2023, Japan had 822,000 Chinese citizens, which is 60,000 more than the year before. This is the largest increase in people moving from China to Japan in a long time.

[Protesters call for a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China’s human rights record, in Tokyo in 2021 (AFP via Getty)]

The Chinese government has not replied to the Human Rights Watch report. However, it has denied accusations that it targets people living abroad. Officials in China say they “respect other countries’ sovereignty.” They insist that the Chinese government protects the rights and freedoms of its citizens everywhere.

The intimidation of Chinese citizens living in Japan is a big problem. As the government tries to control those who speak out, it raises important questions about the rights and safety of people living in other countries. Japan and the international community face challenges in addressing these issues and making sure everyone can speak freely.