Elsa Johnson, an East Asian Studies major at Stanford University and The Stanford Review’s editor-in-chief, recently testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce about how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has stalked her on campus and harassed her with threatening phone calls and emails, going as far as to reference her mother.
Meet @ElsaJohnson, an American undergraduate junior at Stanford University who faced transnational repression (as well as her family!) from the Chinese Communist Party including online and physical surveillance on campus.
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) March 26, 2026
Our universities have become soft targets for foreign… pic.twitter.com/pOc5GuJrND
In New York City, Lydia Dong was brutally attacked while volunteering at an information booth for the Falun Gong-affiliated Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (Tuidang Center), an organization that helps Chinese nationals quit the CCP and educates the public about the dangers of communism. The assailant fled the scene. Authorities have yet to make an arrest.
FEB. 27
— Falun Dafa Information Center (@FalunInfoCtr) March 18, 2026
Flushing, Queens.
A volunteer was struck from behind while distributing materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
She was later hospitalized for evaluation as the attacker fled the scene.
Recent attacks reflect a broader pattern of harassment and… pic.twitter.com/DZ0pHnXG68
These are some of the latest examples of the CCP’s transnational repression (TNR). While it lacks a unified definition, the Department of Justice defines TNR as “a range of tactics that foreign governments employ to reach beyond their borders to harm, threaten, harass, or coerce individuals.” Targets include dissidents, activists, journalists, and ethnic/religious groups. And as Johnson’s case shows, anyone can be a victim of transnational repression, not just those in exile or the diaspora.
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TNR is on the rise in the U.S. and around the world, yet the response from our elected officials has been insufficient. If left unchecked, adversaries will double down on their efforts to silence those they deem regime opponents abroad. Autocrats continue to devise new tactics to repress individuals across borders.
TNR has an impact on the freedom of speech and right to peaceably assemble, as perpetrating countries aim to prevent and stifle any type of dissent. Out of concern for both themselves and their families, individuals often self-censor, withdraw from society, and choose not to report incidents to law enforcement.
TNR affects communities more broadly. It creates an environment of fear and suspicion among neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members. In targets’ eyes, anyone could be a spy.
Transnational repression also poses a threat to the state. Though it falls below the threshold of armed conflict, it directly undermines national sovereignty and exacerbates divisions to weaken a society. China claims to adhere to the principle of noninterference in countries’ internal affairs yet is the world’s top perpetrator of transnational repression.
To combat this threat, Congress needs to take action. A number of states have enacted laws criminalizing transnational repression. Now, federal legislation that defines transnational repression and establishes stiff criminal penalties should be passed.
Other key pieces of legislation are the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025, which calls for the Department of Homeland Security to open a transnational repression office; the Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Act, which sets up a transnational repression hotline and implement a public service campaign; and the Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act, which aims to strengthen the capacity of state and local law enforcement agencies to counter TNR.
The executive branch plays a crucial role in addressing the tide of transnational repression, too. The Trump administration must enhance collaboration with Congress on this bipartisan matter. Coordination across agencies also needs to improve.
While the Department of State’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices mention instances of transnational repression, a section that compiles TNR cases across countries and years, along with an assessment of our and our allies’ efforts to fight this crime, would be an invaluable resource for policymakers and advocacy groups alike.
Given that TNR is a global issue, the administration might also consider forming a task force with some of America’s closest allies to coordinate a response.
I do not expect that TNR will ever be fully resolved. However, adopting even just a few of the measures mentioned above would put us in a much better position. More can certainly be done to counter this threat.
