Disturbing Threats at Canadian Venues
Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based classical Chinese dance company, has faced a series of alarming threats in Canada as part of what the group claims is a coordinated campaign by the Chinese regime. Earlier this year, Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre received a chilling email just before hosting a Shen Yun performance. The message, sent on March 30, contained explicit threats, with the sender stating, 'We have prepared Molotov cocktails and guns,' and warning that they would enter as spectators on performance day to 'suddenly pull out our guns and shoot at the actors and throw Molotov cocktails towards the stage.'
This incident was not isolated. Theaters hosting Shen Yun in three Canadian provinces—British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario—have reported violent threats this year alone. Cities such as Vancouver, Montreal, Mississauga, and Kitchener have been targeted, alongside interference attempts in Calgary. Shen Yun representatives assert that these actions are part of a broader effort by Beijing to suppress the group's mission of showcasing traditional Chinese culture before communism, a narrative that challenges the Chinese government's portrayal of history.
Beijing's Alleged Role in Harassment
Since its founding in 2006, Shen Yun has reported consistent interference from the Chinese regime, ranging from diplomatic pressure to disinformation campaigns. The company, inspired by the spiritual discipline of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong), has been a frequent target due to its critical stance on the Chinese Communist Party. According to Shen Yun's leadership, the threats in Canada are just the latest in a long line of intimidation tactics, including bomb threats traced to entities linked to Beijing.
Similar incidents have occurred beyond Canada's borders. On February 20, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., was evacuated due to a bomb threat targeting Shen Yun's scheduled performances. Although no explosives were found and shows resumed with heightened security, Shen Yun representatives reported receiving 50 similar threats over the preceding three months. Additionally, in March, multiple Taiwanese government agencies received bomb threats targeting a Shen Yun tour, with investigators tracing their origin to an area near Huawei's Xi'an Research Institute in Shaanxi, China.
Global Implications and Ongoing Challenges
The pattern of harassment against Shen Yun raises significant concerns about transnational repression and the safety of cultural organizations that challenge authoritarian narratives. The company's performances, which aim to revive traditional Chinese culture through dance and music under the tagline 'China before communism,' have drawn ire from Beijing, leading to what Shen Yun describes as state-sponsored psychological operations. These actions not only threaten the safety of performers and audiences but also test the resolve of host countries to protect artistic freedom.
Despite the threats, Shen Yun continues its global tour, with tickets available for performances worldwide through their official website. However, the ongoing campaign against them underscores a broader struggle for cultural expression in the face of political pressure. As theaters in Canada and beyond bolster security measures, the international community watches closely to see how far such intimidation tactics will escalate and what measures will be taken to safeguard artistic groups like Shen Yun from targeted harassment.