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Rep. Bera leads bipartisan effort to condemn China’s harassment of American citizens
The resolution details documented instances of PRC intimidation, including targeting U.S. scholars through state-sponsored personal attacks and visa restrictions, harassment of activists.
Ami Bera / File Photo
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on its increasing efforts to harass and intimidate Americans while also suppressing free speech on American soil on Feb. 13.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), highlights Beijing’s attempts to target U.S. citizens, scholars, and activists, threatening both academic freedom and First Amendment rights.
It details documented instances of PRC intimidation, including targeting U.S. scholars through state-sponsored personal attacks and visa restrictions, harassment of activists abroad, consular involvement in organizing counter-protests in the U.S., and physical confrontations with Tibetan and democracy activists during PRC leader Xi Jinping's 2023 visit to the U.S.
In this direction, the resolution calls for decisive action from U.S. law enforcement agencies against foreign-led coercion, urges academic institutions to resist external pressures, and advocates for diplomatic measures to address PRC harassment internationally.
“The United States must send a clear message: harassment and intimidation of American citizens by foreign governments will not be tolerated,” said Rep. Bera. “The PRC’s continued attempts to silence voices within our borders is a direct affront to our democratic values and the rule of law. No foreign power should be able to reach across borders to stifle speech, suppress research, or intimidate individuals for expressing their views.”
Representative Barr added, "The Chinese Communist Party's attempts to harass and intimidate Americans on our own soil are a direct assault on our sovereignty and fundamental freedoms." He emphasized the necessity of bipartisan efforts to hold Beijing accountable for its authoritarian tactics.
This legislative move aligns with ongoing concerns about China's transnational repression. In recent years, U.S. authorities have charged individuals acting as illegal agents of China in campaigns aimed at coercing Chinese nationals to return to face trial. Additionally, reports have surfaced of the PRC's extensive online disinformation operations used to harass and intimidate Americans.
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