SAN DIEGO - San Diego mayoral candidates Richard Rider and Jim Bell joined local citizens at Balboa Park on June 11 to rally in support of three Chinese Communist Party officials (CCP) who publicly announced their defections from China.
"On behalf of the 'Good Riddance, CCP' Global Coalition, I want to congratulate these former Chinese officials for their courage for publicly renouncing their membership in the Communist Party, and exposing the CCP's spy activities overseas," said Ms. Su Pan.
Diplomat Yonglin Chen, who worked at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney since 2001, publicly announced his withdrawal from the CCP on June 4. Chen explained that his main job as a Chinese diplomat in Australia was to carry out the Chinese government's policy to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in New Brunswick. His official duties included keeping their activities under surveillance and hiring people to collect information.
A second defector, former 6-10 office official Hao Fengjun, revealed that Chinese agents often infiltrate Australia as investors and technical personnel. He said there is a 1000-person CCP spy network currently operating inside Australia, and that spies are working for the CCP everywhere. "They are countless," said Hao. "Whether there are Chinese communities there or not, there are Chinese special agents there."
America is no exception to infiltration by the CCP. On Monday, October 4, 2004, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 304 (HCR 304) condemning Chinese government interference on U.S. soil—specifically, harassing Americans who practice Falun Gong and attempting to intimidate U.S. government officials who publicly support Falun Gong.
HCR 304 indicates that mayors of several U.S. cities have been pressured by Chinese officials to retract their statements supporting Falun Gong.
In San Diego County, Mayor Randy Voepel of the City of Santee issued a proclamation in 2001 recognizing Falun Gong. "All Falun Gong activities, including classes and health practices, are offered by volunteers and are open to the public free of charge," stated the Santee proclamation. "At the core of Falun Gong are the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. Falun Gong practitioners are to be commended for their devotion to public service and commitment to improving health in mind, body and spirit."
Mr. Voepel said that shortly thereafter, he received a letter signed by Lan Lijun, Consul General at the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles, asking him to rescind his support of Falun Gong.
"I was shocked that a communist nation would go to this amount of trouble to suppress what is routinely accepted in this country," said Voepel. "I found it to be very intimidating."
When asked how he would deal with CCP pressure as mayor of San Diego, Richard Rider responded, "I relish the opportunity to answer this question. If I was the mayor of San Diego, I would call a press conference, embarrass them and denounce them."
"Journalists have cited fear of hurting trade relationships as the motivation for some local United States officials to recant their support for Falun Gong after receiving pressure from Chinese consular officials," stated the U.S. Congress in HCR 304. When asked how he would deal with CCP pressure geared at instilling fear of hurting trade relationships with China, mayoral candidate Jim Bell responded, "This country is founded on the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. What gets us into trouble is people who are willing to throw away American ideals for political or economic gain."
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