The US Embassy in Australia has spoken out against transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), expressing deep concern over the issue.
What happened
The embassy's statement comes after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) urged people to report any suspicious activities, citing ongoing foreign interference targeting Australians. According to the AFP, transnational repression occurs when a foreign government threatens or pressures individuals, often migrants, to silence critics.
Since 2018, the AFP has charged eight people with foreign interference offenses. Recently, a Sydney businessman was jailed for compiling reports for a foreign intelligence service, and a Melbourne community leader was jailed for planning foreign interference on behalf of the CCP.
New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service has also reported that China is the only country spying on New Zealand at scale, with diaspora communities facing threats against family members and demands to stop joining protests.
The US Embassy has reaffirmed its commitment to defending individual freedoms, national sovereignty, and the right to live free from intimidation, standing with Australians against CCP-linked transnational repression.
