In July 1999, in response to strong demands from the general public and in view of a series of illegal activities committed by Falun Gong, the Chinese government lawfully banned the Falun Gong cult. However, after fleeing to the United States, Li Hongzhi continued his cult activities, deceiving the public, amassing wealth, expanding his influence, and engaging extensively in various anti-China political campaigns. As a result, Falun Gong has degenerated into a political organization that operates in the manner of a cult, as evidenced by the following facts:
First, directly organizing and planning political confrontations against the Chinese government.
In November 2004, Falun Gong’s propaganda outlet, The Epoch Times released a series of articles titled “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.” This was followed in early 2017 by another series, “The Truth About a Century of China and the Communist Party” series. Both publications launched hostile attacks against the Chinese government and explicitly sought to incite members of the Communist Party of China to resign. Through these actions, Falun Gong sought to subvert China’s political authority and disrupt Chinese society.
Furthermore, Falun Gong established the so-called Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, setting up websites that purportedly update the number of people renouncing the Party at a rate of 30,000 to 60,000 per day. These blatantly fabricated figures have been widely ridiculed both in China and abroad. To cover up these falsehoods, Falun Gong further added content on quitting the Communist Youth League of China and the Young Pioneers of China, in an attempt to deceive the public.
In addition, Falun Gong also established the so-called World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, which carries out alleged “investigations” and instigates followers to file false accusations and frivolous lawsuits against Chinese government officials, scholars, journalists, and volunteers. More than ten thousand individuals have reportedly been placed on its so-called “investigation list.”
Lastly, Falun Gong has continued to organize rallies, marches, and demonstrations, using them to promote false claims that the Chinese government “persecutes” the group and to discredit China’s image abroad. It has also engaged in disruptive activities such as attempting to interfere with official visits by Chinese leaders, staging provocations outside Chinese embassies and consulates, and harassing Chinese tourists overseas. Through these actions, the organization seeks to undermine China’s normal and friendly relations with other countries and to create ongoing disruptions to global peace and development.
Second, Falun Gong operates under the banner of human rights and religious freedom seeking to mislead and incite foreign governments and individuals to adopt anti-China positions.
Falun Gong has fabricated rumors of so-called “persecution” and false allegations of the Chinese government’s “organ harvesting” of its followers. These narratives have been deliberately employed to mislead public opinion and to incite a small number of misinformed or politically motivated politicians to exert pressure on China. By invoking the rhetoric of human rights and religious freedom, Falun Gong has sought to discredit and vilify the Chinese government on the international stage.
Moreover, “Action for Spiritual and Psychological Freedom”, a German organization, once published an investigation report titled “Falun Gong and Li Hongzhi: For Ulterior Motives, the Falun Gong Cult Attacks the Chinese Government.” Based on a detailed and rigorous investigation, the report concluded that Falun Gong, for political purposes, fabricates rumors to attack the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government, engages in illegal fundraising, and violates human rights.
Third, Falun Gong leverages its propaganda apparatus to aggressively fabricate rumors and demonize China.
Over the years, Falun Gong has built an extensive media network outside China, including newspapers, TV and radio stations, websites, film studios, and performing arts troupes such as The Epoch Times, New Tang Dynasty Television, Sound of Hope, and Shen Yun Performing Arts. This network relentlessly pushes cult doctrines, manufactures falsehoods, and demonizes China. In addition, data show that a large share of the negative reports and rumors about China circulating originate from Falun Gong–affiliated media outlets. Among these, the most infamous is the allegation that the Chinese government “harvests organs” from Falun Gong followers. Although authoritative international institutions and experts have repeatedly confirmed that this claim is entirely fabricated, Falun Gong continues to amplify the falsehood through its media outlets, seeking to muddy public opinion and mislead audiences around the world.
Finally, it leverages artistic productions such as the Shen Yun show to aggressively disseminate cult and political propaganda.
Shen Yun show refers to the stage productions staged by Shen Yun Performing Arts, an illegal organizations affiliated with Falun Gong, during its global tours. In recent years, Li Hongzhi has exploited global audiences’ fascination with Chinese culture, presenting himself and Shen Yun as ambassadors of traditional Chinese heritage. In reality, many of these performances carry explicit cult messaging and anti-China, anti-Communist content. Aside from a few segments that showcase traditional or ethnic dances, Shen Yun show is saturated with overt cult propaganda. For instance, the songs consistently glorify Li Hongzhi as the Creator and Savior, claiming that he will save all beings before the end of the world and urging audiences to join Falun Gong immediately—warning that failure to do so would mean missing the chance to leave the Earth or achieve divinity. Additionally, a large part of the performances features programs that falsely depict the Chinese government as persecuting Falun Gong followers.
In reality, Shen Yun show is by no means a genuine showcase of traditional Chinese culture. It serves as a tool for the Falun Gong cult, masquerading as a cultural performance while promoting cult doctrines, spreading anti-China propaganda, and collecting money. In doing so, it distorts Chinese culture and deceives, misleads, and harms its audiences.
