By Meng Hao, Vision Times
The U.S.-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which tours globally each year showcasing traditional Chinese culture, has recently faced a surge of violent threats spearheaded by Beijing. According to Chinese human rights lawyer Wu Shaoping, the incidents bear the hallmarks of terrorism and reflect an escalation of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign of transnational repression targeting Falun Gong practitioners.
Speaking in an interview with Vision Times, Wu said the growing number of threats highlights Beijing’s deep anxiety over Shen Yun’s expanding global influence and the Falun Gong community’s efforts to expose human rights abuses in China.
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Shen Yun condemns threats
On March 1, Shen Yun issued a public statement condemning more than 150 serious threats received over the past two years, including bomb threats, threats of shootings, rape, murder of staff, and even death threats targeting performers’ children.
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The threats have targeted Shen Yun’s headquarters, training school, family members, theaters hosting performances, and government officials who support the troupe. According to the statement, at least six national leaders, including the prime ministers of Denmark, Canada, and Australia, received similar bomb threats within the past month demanding the cancellation of Shen Yun performances.
Taiwanese police investigations have reportedly traced some threats to Xi’an, China, which coincided with letters sent by Chinese diplomats urging theaters to cancel performances. Shen Yun’s statement noted that the company’s performances celebrate authentic Chinese culture while also depicting the CCP’s 25-year campaign of persecution against Falun Gong, including detention, torture, and allegations of forced organ harvesting.
More than 90 Shen Yun performers have family members in China who have been imprisoned or died as a result of their faith, the statement said. Despite the intimidation, Shen Yun noted that its performances remain widely attended. The troupe also pointed to growing political attention to the issue, including the passage of the Falun Gong Protection Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Shen Yun described the threats as an attempt by Beijing to intimidate a U.S. arts organization and democratic societies. The company called on governments to condemn the intimidation and deploy counterterrorism resources to identify perpetrators operating from China.
Bomb threats disrupt performances
Data from the Falun Dafa Information Center indicates that threats against Shen Yun and Falun Gong practitioners have increased sharply in recent years. Since 2024, more than 220 cases of death threats, bomb threats, and violent intimidation targeting Shen Yun theaters, performers, affiliated organizations, and supporters have been documented across five continents.
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In February 2026, a bomb threat related to a Shen Yun performance prompted the temporary evacuation of the Australian prime minister’s residence. Police later determined the threat was a hoax. Similar threats have been reported at venues across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Although police investigations rarely uncover actual explosive devices, the threats frequently force performances to be delayed while security sweeps are conducted.
Wu said such tactics can have real disruptive effects even if no bombs are found. “Once law enforcement receives this kind of terrorist threat, it must treat it as a real danger,” he said. “Even if no device is ultimately discovered, the performance often has to be delayed or interrupted.”
Shen Yun typically performs on tightly scheduled tours, with multiple shows in rapid succession. According to Wu, the resulting disruptions create logistical challenges for organizers and inconvenience audiences. “The primary goal of the people issuing these threats is to disrupt the troupe’s normal performances,” he said. “By creating fear and uncertainty, they can interfere with the show even without an actual explosive device.”
Why the CCP targets Shen Yun
Wu said threats involving bombs or shootings constitute serious criminal offenses in virtually every country. “This kind of behavior is certainly a form of terrorism,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that identifying perpetrators can be difficult, particularly if threats originate from overseas networks or anonymous online platforms. “If the threats are coming from abroad, or from mainland China, tracing the individuals responsible becomes far more complex,” he said. Nevertheless, law enforcement agencies should investigate such cases thoroughly.
Wu believes Shen Yun’s growing global influence explains why it has become a target of interference. “Since 1999, the atheistic CCP has carried out a comprehensive crackdown on Falun Gong and essentially treats it as an enemy,” Wu said.
In the CCP’s political logic, any independent belief group with significant social influence may be viewed as a potential threat. Wu noted that Falun Gong practitioners have spent decades documenting and publicizing human rights abuses in China. “Falun Gong has long stood on the front lines exposing the CCP’s various falsehoods and abuses,” he said.
He added that Shen Yun’s artistic performances introduce audiences worldwide to both traditional Chinese culture and issues related to religious freedom and human rights. “Through these performances, people around the world can understand what Falun Gong really is and see the CCP’s human rights persecution,” Wu said.
Shen Yun emphasizes what it calls “China before communism,” portraying traditional values, spirituality, and classical culture, elements that were heavily suppressed during campaigns such as the Cultural Revolution. “Falun Gong practitioners have been working to preserve traditional Chinese culture,” Wu said.
Calls for accountability
Wu argued that the interference targeting Shen Yun should not be viewed as isolated incidents but rather as part of a broader pattern of CCP transnational repression. In recent years, Beijing has increasingly combined propaganda, legal pressure, and intimidation tactics against dissidents and religious groups overseas.
Wu urged Western governments to take such threats seriously. Law enforcement agencies, he said, should treat the threats against Shen Yun performances as serious criminal cases and work to identify those responsible. “If the perpetrators can be identified and arrested, it would deal a major blow to the CCP’s plans,” he said. At the same time, Wu believes the threats are unlikely to halt Shen Yun’s continued growth. Despite escalating intimidation attempts, Shen Yun’s international popularity continues to grow.
The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, having performed for millions of audience members worldwide. This year’s tour includes approximately 800 performances across more than 200 cities in over 20 countries spanning five continents.
In North America, Shen Yun is scheduled to perform in 36 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., as well as major Canadian cities including Toronto and Vancouver. In Asia, 33 performances in Taiwan have reportedly sold out, with congratulations issued by the island’s president and lawmakers attending performances.
Across Europe, the tour spans more than a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. In France alone, 99 performances are scheduled for 2026, with tickets selling out months in advance.
