China’s Bomb Threats Target Arts: A Global Pattern?

China’s Bomb Threats Target Arts: A Global Pattern?

A performing arts group called Shen Yun recently had all its shows canceled in Toronto. This happened after a bomb threat was made at the theater. The venue then canceled all remaining performances. This affected thousands of people and the arts community. Shen Yun believes these threats are part of a larger effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to silence them. The group performs shows about China before communism and highlights human rights issues there today.

The bomb threat in Toronto was traced to a Chinese Gmail account. The local organizer said they would increase security and use dogs to check for threats. Ticket holders could get new tickets or wait for next year’s tour. Police investigated and said the threat wasn’t real. However, the theater still canceled all shows, citing more threats.

Steve Lance, host of NTD’s Capital Report, discussed this situation. He noted that the CCP’s goal seems to be to scare people. Lance pointed out that Shen Yun has faced over a hundred similar bomb threats since 2024. Usually, performances are not canceled because of these threats. The Toronto situation is somewhat unusual.

Lance explained that these threats are often not credible. He recalled a similar incident at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. last year. People had to evacuate, disrupting the performers and audience. However, the show usually goes on. It’s widely understood that the CCP uses these threats as a tactic. Evidence, like the Gmail account used in Toronto, makes this clearer. Taiwan’s intelligence services have also traced similar threats back to China, even linking them to a Huawei facility.

Why This Matters

Lance believes that venues should carefully assess the credibility of threats before canceling shows. He compared the CCP’s actions to a bully. If a bully’s threats work, they will keep doing it. He stressed that the CCP’s bomb hoaxes have never resulted in actual attacks. Yet, they have caused disruptions.

This tactic isn’t limited to Toronto or the U.S. Threats also caused the Prime Minister of Australia to evacuate his home recently. These threats were linked to Shen Yun performances in Sydney. Lance argued that the only way to stop this is to speak out. Heads of state and others need to call out the CCP directly. Allowing these actions to continue is a victory for them. The threats are designed to scare people and disrupt performances.

Lance also suggested that more media coverage could help. By exposing the CCP’s tactics, more people would understand what’s happening. This would prevent fear from spreading in communities.

A Wider Campaign?

The question arises whether this is just about Shen Yun or a larger issue. Lance believes it’s bigger. He explained that these actions are coordinated, not accidental. In a documentary called “Unbroken,” he investigated these influence campaigns. The investigation followed a family whose sons are Shen Yun dancers.

While the sons performed in Taiwan, their father received a call about bomb threats at the theater. Although the threats were not credible, the show did go on in Taiwan. However, the threats were traced back to China. Leaked memos from high levels in Beijing suggest these campaigns are meant to target Shen Yun outside of China, including in the U.S.

Lance stated that if the CCP sees this tactic working, they will use it against anyone or anything they choose. This is not an isolated incident. It’s a tool the CCP uses to achieve its goals.

Roots in Persecution

The documentary clip also revealed that Taiwanese authorities traced these threats to China, near a Huawei Research Center. Lance explained that the CCP considers Falun Gong, a spiritual practice, its number one enemy. Shen Yun was founded by Falun Dafa practitioners who fled persecution in China.

Many of these practitioners sought refuge in the U.S. They created Shen Yun to revive traditional Chinese culture. Some performances also highlight the repression happening in China. The CCP has severely persecuted Falun Gong in China, imprisoning, torturing, and killing many. This has led to one of the most serious human rights crimes: forced live organ harvesting.

Lance emphasized that there is strong evidence of this happening on a large scale in China. If Shen Yun can expose even a small part of this atrocity, the CCP sees it as a grave threat. This is because harvesting organs from innocent people and killing them is extremely evil.

If the truth about organ harvesting becomes widely known, the CCP might not be able to survive. World leaders would find it difficult to engage with a regime responsible for such crimes. Therefore, the CCP is deeply afraid of Falun Gong and groups like Shen Yun that tell their story. They fear that exposing these truths could lead to their downfall.

Future Outlook

The CCP’s use of bomb threats against cultural performances is a tactic to suppress dissent and control narratives internationally. This strategy, if successful, could be expanded to target other groups or individuals critical of the regime. The lack of strong international condemnation and consistent action by venues emboldens the CCP. The future may see an increase in such tactics unless governments and institutions take a firmer stance.

The connection to Falun Gong and the alleged organ harvesting adds a layer of urgency. If these allegations are exposed more widely, it could have significant geopolitical implications. The CCP’s fear of exposure suggests that groups like Shen Yun play a crucial role in bringing attention to human rights abuses. The ongoing campaign highlights the challenges faced by artists and activists in speaking truth to power, especially when confronting a state actor like the CCP.

Source: Heads of State Need to Call out the Chinese Communist Party Over Bomb Threats to Theaters Worldwide (YouTube)