A performing arts show has become a prime target in the foreign agenda of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Nearly everywhere Shen Yun performs, officials from the Chinese embassies and consulates call theaters and local politicians, threatening a damper in Chinese relations if they see it or allow the show to perform.
In most cases, governments have resisted pressure and the show has gone on. In 2009, Shen Yun Performing Arts held 311 performances in more than 100 cities around the world, and has received rave reviews. Only a few shows have actually been canceled—particularly in countries where the CCP has influence, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Before Shen Yun—a show of classical Chinese dance and music—first began its world tour, the CCP set out harassing show sponsors, blocking ticket lines, and mobilizing Chinese student associations to interfere through the consulates and embassies. After the attempts failed, they turned to threats—calling and sending letters to government officials in all countries where the show performs, threatening that holding the show will hurt their relations with China.
Many of the CCP’s letters have been passed to Shen Yun organizers, and public officials have openly condemned the regime’s actions.
The Chinese Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, sent letters to government leaders and foreign Consulates on Jan. 6, 2009, “reminding” them not to see Shen Yun. The letter was made public and stirred strong voices against the actions of the CCP. European Union Parliament Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering and Vice Chairman Edward McMillan-Scott both sent letters wishing the show success.
On Feb. 9, 2009, Mr. McMillan-Scott held a welcoming party for Shen Yun’s 2009 European tour, attended by more than 100 people, including many European parliamentarians, their assistants, and stewards. Mr. McMillan-Scott said the show “is a contemporary historic poem that can be enjoyed by both Easterners and Westerners.”
British MEP Mr. Barden said, “Tell everyone, go see the show, feel it and do your best to support the meaning behind it.”
In 2007, the Chinese Embassy had also threatened Swedish Culture Committee Chief Johan Lundgren. Mr. Lundgren said the CCP’s threats were empty and caused no problems with Swedish-China relations. “I was very clear on the fact that freedom of expression is applied here,” he said.
In many other countries, politicians and public leaders learned of, and went to see Shen Yun, only after receiving threats from the CCP not to see the show.
During a Shen Yun performance in Canada in 2007, the Chinese Embassy sent letters and made calls to various government offices. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper personally sent a congratulatory letter to Shen Yun and Environment Minister John Baird attended the show to personally relay congratulations from the PM.
Also in 2007, California’s Chairman of Orange County’s Board of Supervisors Chris Norby received a letter from the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles requesting he not see the show. Mr. Norby responded by saying, “Your request is an insult to me. Of course I will not comply.”
Reviving Culture
According to Shen Yun company’s master of ceremonies, Leeshai Lemish, the CCP is interfering with the performances “because it is terrified of Shen Yun.”
The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization that has set out to restore the traditional culture of China and “Breathe new life into traditional Chinese culture while providing audiences everywhere with an experience of sublime beauty,” according to the company’s website.
The show has been targeted by the CCP because the very culture Shen Yun has set out to revive is the same that the CCP has spent decades trying to destroy, explained Mr. Lemish through e-mail.
“This is a 5,000-year heritage, steeped with spirituality and ideas such as there being consequences for every action—good or bad—that we take,” Mr. Lemish said. “These are ideas that the Party has labeled as superstitious and tried to uproot and replace with atheism, Marxism, and absolute materialism.”
The show contains two dance pieces that depict the CCP’s violent persecution of Falun Gong and the peaceful resistance of its practitioners in China. According to Mr. Lemish, “The Party knows that art delivered with such integrity touches people in a way that lies cannot compete with. In short, the Party is trying to stop Shen Yun because it is afraid—understands how powerful art can be, and how powerful Shen Yun’s message of hope and reviving traditional culture is. It especially fears its dark secrets being exposed around the world.”
Foreign Government Support
In its attempt to stop performances, the CCP has gone to nearly all ends. In Hong Kong, seven sold-out performances were canceled in January, after visas were denied last minute for seven key crew members.
According to the D.C. Human Rights Examiner, “The Hong Kong shows were particularly important because the expression of traditional Chinese music and dance is currently not permitted in mainland China. Shen Yun, along with members of the Chinese-American community, viewed the Hong Kong performances as an important first step in bringing such art forms back to China.”
Several U.S. officials stepped forward to condemn the cancellations. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher issued a press release on Jan. 27 condemning the cancellations. “These local officials were following the lead of their overlords in Beijing. It is always sad to see censorship and repression of this kind spreading to places like Hong Kong, who were once beacons of freedom and hope in the world.”
Mr. Rohrabacher added, “The communist leaders are so insecure that they fear just a handful of actors could pull back the veil of propaganda and show the people what is really going on in their own country.”
Congressman Joseph Cao (R-La.) gave a statement at Capitol Hill, saying, “It is just another indication of how the Chinese government are trying to suppress any kind of expression that will challenge their right to supremacy, their right to govern their people with a totalitarian grip, and as a representative of the most powerful democracy in the world I believe that the actions of the Chinese government is something that we have to challenge.”
All Extremes
Outside bribery and threats, the most common tactic the CCP has used in attacking Shen Yun is calling it “political” or “against China.” The terms are favorites of the regime in its foreign propaganda, and were the same used to condemn human rights activists during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as the terms used to deflect evidence of hacking e-mails and businesses when Google pulled out of China.
“The CCP likes to label anything they don’t like as being anti-China,” said Mr. Lemish. “You openly advocate for the rights of Chinese people? You’re anti-China. You want to help China establish real rule of law? You’re anti-China.”
Mr. Lemish added, “In Shen Yun’s case, the CCP is making a funny argument that Chinese choreographers, Chinese composers, Chinese musicians, and young Chinese dancers who are dedicating their lives to reviving traditional Chinese culture are anti-China. It’s actually quite humorous.”
