“Today, the FBI arrested Xiaolei Wu for repeatedly threatening and infringing on the rights of a civic activist who spoke out against the ruling Communist Party of China,” read a press release from the bureau. “We believe Mr. Wu stalked, harassed, and reported the victim’s support for democracy to law enforcement in the People’s Republic of China so it would launch an investigation into the victim and her family.”
“This alleged conduct is incredibly disturbing and goes completely against our country’s democratic values,” the statement continued. “This case also highlight’s the FBI’s ongoing commitment to protecting the exercise of free speech for all citizens and our efforts to bring to justice anyone who tries to infringe on those rights.”
Wu’s alleged conduct fits a pattern of the Chinese regime, using its citizens and a network of agents to monitor dissidents and anti-communist agitators outside its borders. Reports emerged in October that China had established an “overseas police service station” to aid its citizens while abroad. Many have alleged, however, that Beijing’s global network of such facilities in fact serve as bases to repatriate dissidents.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member