The Chinese Communist Party’s primary method of disrupting Shen Yun performances has evolved from traditional infiltration to remote terrorism suited to the internet age, according to Wu Shaoping, a Chinese human rights lawyer now based overseas. In an interview with Vision Times, Wu said the CCP no longer needs agents on the ground to sabotage a show.
“They don’t need to carry out the threat locally,” Wu said. “All it takes is an email sent from inside China. Even if it turns out to be a hoax, and even after authorities clear the venue, the disruption has already served its purpose.”
The Toronto cancellation on March 29 demonstrated the tactic’s effectiveness. After the Four Seasons Centre received the bomb threat, staff had no choice but to evacuate the audience and cancel the Shen Yun show. Police ultimately determined the threat was not credible, but the performance was already lost.
“We need governments to recognize that this has become a widespread pattern,” Wu said. “They should strengthen criminal enforcement against the CCP’s use of terrorism-style intimidation to disrupt legitimate cultural performances, and they should pursue diplomatic efforts as well.”
Shen Yun’s 20th anniversary tour spans 200 cities, and the CCP cannot tolerate its global reach
The 2026 season marks Shen Yun Performing Arts’ 20th anniversary. The company plans nearly 800 performances across more than 200 cities in 21 countries on five continents, with eight touring companies performing simultaneously. It is the largest season in Shen Yun’s history. In North America, the tour covers multiple U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canadian cities including Toronto and Vancouver. In Europe, performances span more than ten countries; France alone is hosting 99 shows. In Asia, all 33 performances in Taiwan sold out, and Taiwan’s president issued a congratulatory message.
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Shen Yun features classical Chinese dance, original orchestral compositions, and patented digital backdrop technology. The performances present 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture while also addressing contemporary realities, including the CCP’s ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. Shen Yun draws nearly two million audience members per year, and over two decades, more than ten million people have attended performances worldwide.
Wu argued that Shen Yun’s global success is precisely what provokes the CCP’s aggressive response. “If Shen Yun didn’t have this kind of influence, the CCP would never go to such lengths,” he said. “Shen Yun has accomplished what no other group has been able to do, and that is what drives the CCP to use these shameless tactics.”
The bomb threats do more than disrupt individual Shen Yun performances. They increase operating costs, weigh on the morale of performers and production staff, and may make theaters hesitant to book the company in the future. “This will create significant difficulties for Shen Yun’s future collaborations with venues, and it will drive up operating costs,” Wu said.
Governments must pair criminal enforcement with diplomatic pressure against CCP transnational repression
Making terrorist threats is a criminal offense in every jurisdiction, Wu emphasized. He urged governments to take concrete steps against the CCP’s campaign of transnational repression targeting Shen Yun.
“This is a textbook case of terrorism-style intimidation,” Wu said. “Our sense is that law enforcement and intelligence agencies in various countries have not treated this seriously enough, which is why these CCP bomb threats keep succeeding.”
Wu acknowledged the investigative challenges. Because the threats originate from inside China, tracing the perpetrators requires enormous technical resources, and success is far from guaranteed. “Without diplomatic tools, it is very difficult to make progress,” he said. “Investigating the people behind these threats demands significant time, technology, and capability. The perpetrators are inside China. If the CCP refuses to cooperate, you cannot reach them. And of course the CCP itself is behind this, so it will never cooperate.”
“This is a test for Shen Yun,” Wu said. “It is also a serious test for governments around the world.”
Attending Shen Yun is the strongest response to CCP intimidation
Wu praised the resilience of Falun Dafa practitioners and the Shen Yun artists who have withstood decades of CCP persecution. “Decades of persecution have failed to break Falun Dafa practitioners,” he said. “They continue to persist inside mainland China, and they have taken root and flourished around the world. This is a reflection of the spirit of Falun Dafa. Shen Yun’s artists are part of the Falun Dafa community, and that same inner strength will continue to drive them forward.”
At the close of the interview, Wu addressed Western and Chinese diaspora audiences who have not yet seen a Shen Yun performance. “If you haven’t seen it, I would encourage you to go,” he said. “I’ve attended two performances myself, and they were spectacular. The production incorporates advanced technology, combining the digital and the physical to showcase art in a way I haven’t seen elsewhere. Especially overseas, where access to traditional Chinese culture can be limited, an organization like Shen Yun bringing Chinese culture and the art of dance to audiences around the world is rare and deserves strong support.”
Wu said the single greatest way to support Shen Yun against CCP transnational repression is to attend a performance. “I believe that anyone who sees Shen Yun will walk away moved and positively affected,” he said.
Shen Yun’s stage brings to life timeless themes of the struggle between good and evil. As the company’s 20th anniversary global tour continues and CCP bomb threats persist in multiple cities, Shen Yun will press forward. History will bear out that justice prevails over tyranny.
By Li Ting
