Chen Yixin leads smear campaign against Shen Yun in the US

In November 2024, a whistleblower within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) revealed that the Ministry of State Security, headed by Chen Yixin since 2022, is actively engaging in a smear campaign against Shen Yun Performing Arts in the United States. Shen Yun, known for its portrayal of Chinese culture devoid of communist influences, has become a focal point for the CCP's efforts to eliminate the Falun Gong spiritual practice overseas. The whistleblower's account was released by the Falun Dafa Information Center, shedding light on a broader systematic plan involving multiple security divisions of the Chinese regime. The campaign against Falun Gong is framed as a coordinated effort where various state security entities are not only executing sabotage but also inciting others to participate in the attacks against Falun Gong practitioners and their art forms. The whistleblower pointed out that this is the fourth such testimony received this year, each adding weight to the narrative of an organized state-sponsored effort to undermine and destroy the Falun Gong community abroad. This campaign is believed to be handled with sophisticated methodologies, reflecting the regime's ability to manipulate public perception via external actors. Chen Yixin's involvement is particularly significant, as he has a history of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners internally during his tenure at the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission prior to leading the Ministry of State Security. His prior comments have included a vow to maintain a severe environment to eradicate groups practicing Falun Gong. With ongoing arrests and hostility reported against practitioners, the international community is increasingly warned to remain skeptical of CCP misinformation disseminated through manipulated channels. The implications of his mission are substantial; if successful overseas, Chen could leverage these accomplishments for recognition and reward from the highest echelons of the CCP leadership, including Xi Jinping. The Ministry of State Security's strategy reportedly incorporates the use of social media and other platforms to further their anti-Falun Gong agenda, which also involves cyber operations suspected of intruding into U.S. networks. The Salt Typhoon cyberattack, attributed to the MSS, underlines the regime's intent to infiltrate political communications, potentially affecting campaigns at the national level. This strategic manipulation of information and public sentiment poses a severe threat not only to the Falun Gong community but also to broader human rights along with free expression in a global context.