China perfects techno-totalitarianism for global export, says Rep. Gallagher.

The Chinese Communist Party’s Techno-Totalitarian Regime for Export

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) has issued a warning that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is perfecting a techno-totalitarian regime to be exported worldwide.

At a roundtable hearing hosted by the lawmaker on July 12, the worsening repression of faith under the regime was brought into focus. The chairman and other panelists of the House Select Committee on the CCP emphasized that these abuses extend beyond China’s borders.

“Across the board, we’ve seen the Chinese Communist Party leverage access to their market and their economic power in order to coerce American companies, international companies,” Mr. Gallagher told The Epoch Times’ sister outlet NTD.

The lawmaker referred to a lawsuit against Cisco, accusing the tech giant of aiding Beijing’s persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong. Cisco allegedly provided the regime with U.S. technology and components, enabling the construction of a vast surveillance network. Several adherents, including a U.S. citizen, claim that this system tracked their online activities related to Falun Gong, leading to their arrest and torture in China.

Mr. Gallagher expressed that he wouldn’t be surprised by the alleged business deal and its impact on the CCP’s surveillance power. He stated, “It’s a manifestation of transnational repression, and ultimately, I think proves the point that the techno-totalitarian regime that the CCP is perfecting in China will not stay there. It’s a model it increasingly wants to export around the world.” He also mentioned that he is considering various pieces of legislation to counter this threat.

Repression of Faith and Suffering of Chinese Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs

During the roundtable, representatives for Chinese Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs shared their experiences of suffering under China’s communist party officials. Some, like house church pastor Pan Yongguang, continue to face persecution even after fleeing China.

Mr. Pan and members of Mayflower Church in China’s Shenzhen city left the country in October 2019. After arriving in South Korea, they received threatening phone calls from CCP officials demanding their return. In Thailand, they were followed by suspected CCP agents, while their relatives in China faced harassment and interrogation. In February of this year, Chinese police officers visited Mr. Pan’s wife’s parents in Hunan province to pressure her into convincing him to return. The stress of the situation caused Mrs. Pan to suffer a partial heart attack.

“The Chinese Communist Party wants to dominate the world. If they achieved their goals, then what you see happening in China is going to happen around the world,” said Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), a member of the House China Committee.

He highlighted the arrest and fine of Cardinal Joseph Zen, 91, in Hong Kong for supporting pro-democracy protesters. Mr. Gimenez emphasized the importance of speaking up about the regime’s abuses, as what is happening in China today could happen elsewhere in the future.

“You have to be subservient to the Chinese Communist Party, and if you pose a threat to the Chinese Communist Party in any way, you’ll be persecuted, you’ll be in prison, and sometimes, you may even lose your life,” he warned.

Lobbying Efforts and Economic Influence

Multiple current and former U.S. religious freedom officials have raised concerns about lobbying efforts on behalf of China in Washington. Reports have emerged of major companies like Nike and Coca-Cola attempting to weaken legislation banning imports from Xinjiang due to forced labor concerns.

Frederick Davie, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, emphasized the need for the U.S. government to closely monitor and prevent multinational corporations from assisting the regime’s oppression.

Oncologist Dr. Weldon Gilcrease at the University of Utah previously told The Epoch Times that his school’s health care system refrained from speaking out on forced organ harvesting out of fear of economic retaliation from Beijing.

According to Davie, incidents like this highlight the level of influence that China’s economic reach has globally, including in the United States.

American Consumers and the Role They Play

Tony Perkins, former chair of the bipartisan religious freedom commission and president of the Family Research Council, emphasized that American consumers contribute to China’s repression by funding it through the purchase of cheap goods.

In his opinion, the United States should cease all economic transactions with China until there is a change in the human rights situation. He urged Americans to recognize that the profits from their consumerism directly contribute to the CCP’s repression.