By Chen Jing, Vision Times
A wave of bomb and death threats targeting world leaders and cultural venues linked to the performing arts group Shen Yun has raised serious concerns internationally, prompting investigations by multiple governments. The threats, sent in Chinese-language emails to organizers and officials across several countries, demanded the cancellation of Shen Yun performances and warned of severe consequences if the shows continued.
The incident has drawn attention to the long-running campaign against Shen Yun, a New York–based performing arts company known for promoting traditional Chinese culture and values.
A pattern of repression
Founded in 2006, Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Based in New York, Shen Yun aims to revive what it describes as “China before communism” through dazzling performances in art, dance, and music. Each year, the company performs hundreds of shows worldwide and attracts large international audiences.
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However, Shen Yun has also faced sustained efforts to disrupt its performances. Over the years, organizers say theaters hosting the company have received pressure from Chinese diplomatic officials urging them to cancel contracts.
Other reported incidents have included attempts to sabotage tour buses and interference with venue arrangements. In recent months, however, the tactics appear to have escalated significantly. According to reports, more than 130 threatening emails containing bomb and death threats have been sent since January to organizations in multiple countries.
At one point, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. reportedly evacuated parts of the venue after receiving a threat.
In another case, event organizers in Australia received messages threatening that the prime minister’s residence would be “blown into ruins.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was temporarily moved to a secure location as a precaution.
Threats directed at world leaders
Investigations suggest the threats referenced a number of political leaders across the democratic world.
Those mentioned in the threatening messages reportedly included Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The emails were written in Chinese and demanded that Shen Yun performances be canceled.
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One message sent to Canadian organizers stated: “If you insist on holding the Shen Yun performance, the Canadian prime minister will face consequences… If you do not care about the safety of senior officials, then continue.”
Another message directed at Taiwan’s president reportedly threatened that it did “not rule out shooting,” and even warned about driving “a vehicle filled with explosives toward the Presidential Office.”
Authorities in Taiwan said their investigation into several threatening emails traced certain IP addresses to Xi’an, China. According to reports, some of the addresses were linked to a research facility associated with the Chinese technology company Huawei, which has previously faced scrutiny from Western governments over security concerns.
Officials have not publicly confirmed whether the messages were directly connected to any government entity, but the findings have intensified scrutiny surrounding the threats.
Beijing’s response
When asked about the incident during a press briefing in Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not directly address the allegations. Instead, the spokesperson criticized Shen Yun and its affiliated groups. Observers later noted that portions of the exchange were removed from the official transcript published by the ministry.
The episode drew attention after China’s embassy in Australia posted the full exchange on social media, inadvertently revealing the deleted remarks.
The threats have prompted strong reactions from lawmakers and officials in several countries. Shen Yun Vice President Chen Ying condemned the intimidation campaign, saying: “To force Shen Yun to cancel performances, the Chinese Communist Party has even threatened the lives of world leaders. This shows how desperate and reckless its tactics have become.”
Political leaders in democratic countries have also criticized the threats. Some Australian lawmakers described them as a challenge to national sovereignty, while Danish Member of Parliament Mikkel Bjørn said: “If I must obey China’s communist dictatorship when participating in cultural events, I would feel ashamed.” Another Danish lawmaker, Kim Valentin, argued that such pressure would likely backfire, saying that attempts to suppress the performances might encourage more people to attend.
Supporters of Shen Yun say the group’s performances celebrate traditional Chinese values and cultural heritage. Critics in Beijing, however, have repeatedly accused the company of promoting narratives that challenge the Chinese Communist Party.
As the dispute continues to play out internationally, the wave of threats has added a new dimension to the controversy, raising broader questions about security, diplomacy, and cultural expression in the global arena.
Editorial note: Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vision Times.
