China-Watchers Keep Both Eyes on US Falun Gong Protection Act

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and call for an end to the persecution in China, in New York City, on May 10, 2024. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

News Analysis

On June 25, 2024, a landmark moment arrived for Falun Gong adherents as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132).” This legislation calls for the immediate cessation of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong. It demands the U.S. address the CCP’s organ harvesting practices and impose sanctions on those involved, including asset freezes, travel bans, and criminal penalties. The bill now moves to the Senate, and if passed, awaits presidential signature.

This legislation could profoundly affect China’s international relations and human rights practices globally, as analysts told “Pinnacle View,” an NTD TV commentary program focused on China’s current affairs.

Decades of Advocacy Culminate in Legislative Action

On NTD’s Pinnacle View, independent TV producer Li Jun, said the Falun Gong Protection Act marks the first U.S. legislation accusing the CCP of persecuting Falun Gong and engaging in government-led organ harvesting.

Introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the bill was described as “25 years overdue” in his speech to Congress. It mandates the president to provide a sanctions list to Congress within 180 days of enactment, alongside annual updates. It also requires the Secretary of State and health officials to report on the CCP’s organ transplant practices within a year, discouraging U.S.-China collaborations in this field and urging cooperation with international allies to expose the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.

Mr. Li emphasized that the bill’s passage through the Senate and subsequent presidential approval would represent the first official U.S. condemnation of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and organ harvesting crimes.

“The potential inclusion of high-ranking CCP officials on the sanctions list could significantly impact the regime, encouraging similar actions from other countries and international bodies, potentially isolating those who support the CCP,” he added.

Global Repercussions Anticipated Following US Legislation

Guo Jun, editor-in-chief of The Epoch Times’ Hong Kong edition, echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the bill’s passage could trigger a chain of global response. Reflecting on a speech she delivered at a United Nations Human Rights meeting in Geneva over a decade ago, Ms. Guo highlighted the initial shock among diplomats at the acts of organ harvesting by the CCP.

“In subsequent discussions, substantial evidence was presented, compelling nearly all attendees to acknowledge the severity of this human rights issue. Representatives from various European countries noted that, although their nations were small and wielded limited influence, they would align with the U.S.’s lead,” Ms. Guo said.

She further predicts that this U.S. initiative will lead to widespread international legislative and administrative actions against the CCP’s human rights atrocities.

Falun Gong practitioners call for an end to the persecution of the spiritual group in China, during an event marking 24 years since the launch of the persecution, on Capitol Hill, on July 20, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Intensifying Scrutiny Over Organ Harvesting Allegations

Ms. Guo, in a candid memory shared on Pinnacle View, recounted the difficulties faced by The Epoch Times in reporting on forced organ harvesting by the CCP since its first exposé 18 years ago.

Ms. Guo described a chilling incident where she brought witnesses to a major U.S. media outlet, only to find the assigned journalist was an intern from China Central Television (CCTV), part of an exchange program. This revelation led one of the witnesses, familiar with the Chinese national security’s extensive reach and potential implications, to abruptly leave the meeting in fear.

This struggle for credibility was echoed in Hong Kong, where initially, 70 to 80 percent of residents dismissed the organ harvesting reports, as “the idea was beyond their comprehension.” The perception changed dramatically following the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement (the Hong Kong protests) in 2019, which opened many people’s eyes to the extreme behavior of the CCP.

“Recent years have seen heightened concerns as not only Falun Gong practitioners but also young individuals, including teenagers, have reportedly gone missing under suspicious circumstances,” Ms. Guo noted, highlighting the grim reality of these cases, where the missing teenagers are feared to be targeted for their organs, considered ideal due to their health and lack of chronic diseases.

“The CCP has invested heavily in monitoring and controlling the Chinese population, yet despite this extensive surveillance system, it has failed to account for these missing youths, some of whom were later found deceased with organs removed—cases that remain unresolved,” Ms. Guo said.

“This pattern has led to increased public awareness and caution among Chinese citizens, particularly parents, who are now wary of schools conducting blood tests or offering free health checks for their children.”

Ms. Guo underscores a societal shift under the CCP, where citizens are no longer viewed as individuals but as potential sources for organ harvesting. This dehumanization, she argues, poses a grave threat not only to China but to global human rights standards, necessitating urgent international attention and action.

Strategic Shift in US Policy Toward China

Lin Xiaoxu, a member of the “Committee on the Present Danger: China,” an American anti-communist foreign policy interest group, said on Pinnacle View that “the U.S. administrations have previously been cautious about its relationship with the CCP, adhering to many internal rules and largely avoiding Falun Gong issues.”

“Unlike Christianity, Falun Gong was not well-known, and the CCP, under [former leader] Jiang Zemin, conducted extensive smear campaigns against Falun Gong internationally, leading to a gradual understanding of Falun Gong within the U.S. government,” Mr. Lin said.

Mr. Lin detailed the legislative journey of the “Falun Gong Protection Act,” initially introduced by Mr. Perry in the 117th Congress in 2021. Facing considerable debate within the Foreign Affairs Committee and lacking sufficient consensus, the bill was shelved.

However, in the current 118th Congress, Mr. Perry, drawing on his military background, recognized the significance of the ongoing 25-year persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP and the absence of international legislation to hold the perpetrators accountable. In response, he redoubled his efforts, which led to the bill advancing beyond the committee stage and garnering bipartisan support in the House.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) speaks during a news conference on the debt limit negotiations at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 10, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“Congressman Perry recognized the persecution of Falun Gong as a significant and sensitive issue, a ‘pain point’ for the CCP. By addressing this, the U.S. could strategically impact the CCP,” Mr. Lin said, highlighting the dual focus of the bill on the alleged organ harvesting and the persecution of Falun Gong. He pointed out that “the CCP has long lied to the international community about these activities while turning organ harvesting into a lucrative industry.”

He believes this bill marks a pivotal shift and a turning point in U.S.-China relations.

Mr. Lin stressed that, unlike previous annual reports by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which outlined human rights abuses by the CCP but lacked enforceability, this bill introduces punitive measures. This addition is what Mr. Lin considers a significant enhancement, turning general condemnations into actionable policy changes that could have profound implications on both the bilateral relationship and the global human rights landscape.

Growing International Momentum for Actions Against CCP

Shi Shan, a senior editor at The Epoch Times, highlighted that past U.S. bills addressing human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong experienced significant delays.

“For example, the Xinjiang bill took nearly a year to pass through the Senate, while the Tibet bill faced prolonged negotiations. The urgency in passing the Hong Kong bill was escalated by the arson attack on The Epoch Times’ printing plant during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement (2019–2020 Hong Kong protests), which intensified Congressional action,” Mr. Shi said.

“Falun Gong’s unique position as a faith emerging from within the majority Han Chinese population has made it less entangled in the ethnic, regional, and historical complexities seen with Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This distinction previously led the U.S. to prioritize these other issues over Falun Gong. The challenges in addressing Falun Gong’s persecution stem from the CCP’s national-level suppression, making it more complex for the U.S. to intervene. This situation reflects a shift in the nature of U.S.-China relations.”

According to Mr. Lin, the U.S. State Department is actively compiling a sanctions list, significantly supported by groups like the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG). The timing and implementation of these sanctions are crucial in determining their effectiveness.

He projected that the international response, especially from medical associations, could be pivotal.

“If medical associations worldwide see the U.S. passing this bill, they may stop publishing articles from China in organ transplant journals, assuming the organ sources cannot be legally verified. Historically, early attempts to end collaborations with Chinese medical practitioners were thwarted by the CCP’s deceptive tactics. As the CCP’s organ harvesting atrocities continue to be exposed, international punitive measures are likely to follow, reaching a critical juncture,” Mr. Lin said.