For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has worked to erase traditional culture, suppress religious freedom, and silence dissent. One organization that has defied this campaign is Shen Yun, a performing arts company dedicated to reviving authentic Chinese heritage.
The CCP, unable to shut down Shen Yun through direct suppression, has now turned to an even more insidious tactic — leveraging American media outlets such as the New York Times to attack it instead.
This is not just China’s problem — it is America’s problem. If foreign authoritarian tactics infiltrate our press, silence dissidents, and shape public perception, we risk the very foundations of our Republic. This is a test of our resolve. Will we defend our values, or will we allow the CCP to dictate what Americans can and cannot hear?
CHINA-TAIWAN FEUD RUNS DEEP IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS
Shen Yun has achieved international acclaim without a single dollar from corporate sponsors. Its mission is to showcase 5,000 years of authentic Chinese culture, something the CCP has worked relentlessly to erase. Beijing has pressured theaters worldwide to cancel performances, launched smear campaigns, and even targeted the company with cyberattacks. When these efforts failed, the CCP pivoted to a new approach — using American media as its weapon of choice.
The New York Times, a publication that has historically shown sympathy toward socialist and communist ideologies, recently launched an attack on Shen Yun. However, this isn’t just about one article—it follows a well-documented CCP strategy. The Chinese regime has successfully pressured Hollywood to self-censor, manipulated major corporations to avoid criticizing China, and used Western journalists to push its narratives.
The NBA, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley have repeatedly capitulated to CCP demands in exchange for market access, choosing profits over principles. American universities have been infiltrated by Confucius Institutes, which operate under the guise of cultural exchange but serve as propaganda arms of the CCP. Now, the CCP is using American media to smear dissidents who sought refuge in the United States, turning our own press against those who fled oppression.
This is foreign interference in its purest form. When American news organizations echo CCP talking points, they are complicit in suppressing free speech — not just abroad, but right here on American soil.
Growing up in Iran, I saw firsthand how regimes use psychological warfare and propaganda to silence dissent. Every Friday after prayers, radical mobs targeted families such as mine simply for existing outside the government’s strict ideology. The Iranian regime used state-controlled media to turn citizens against each other and eliminate opposition. Now, I see the CCP employing the same playbook. Instead of mobs, it is using American journalists to carry out its attacks. The goal remains the same — control the narrative, demonize opposition, and silence those who expose the truth.
What’s happening to Shen Yun is not just a Chinese problem. It is an American problem. If we allow foreign adversaries to dictate who can and cannot speak in this country, we are no longer a free nation. If this continues unchecked, the consequences will be severe. Freedom of speech will be compromised as American journalists become tools for silencing those who challenge the CCP. If the media can be weaponized against an organization such as Shen Yun, what’s stopping it from using the same tactics against everyday Americans?
The growing influence of the CCP will undermine our republic as its reach extends deeper into corporate America, universities, and media institutions. If China can manipulate public narratives and policy decisions through media influence and financial leverage, then America is no longer governing itself.
IRAN, CHINA, AND WHY ELBRIDGE COLBY MUST BE CONFIRMED
It is time to act decisively. The Foreign Agents Registration Act must be strictly enforced, requiring journalists and media executives who push CCP propaganda to register as foreign agents. The U.S. must expel CCP influence from American media and technology, closely scrutinizing Chinese-owned platforms such as TikTok that serve as tools of foreign manipulation. Corporations that prioritize China’s interests over American values must be exposed and held accountable. Investigations into CCP ties within U.S. institutions must be a priority, ensuring transparency in the financial connections between American politicians, media figures, and Chinese entities.
Shen Yun performers came to America because they believed in the promise of liberty. If we allow CCP tactics to infiltrate our media, corporations, and institutions, we are betraying that promise. This matter is bigger than Shen Yun. It is about preserving America’s soul. If we stand by and do nothing, we are complicit. However, if we rise to expose these tactics and defend those who dare to speak the truth, we prove that America is still the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Brian Taef is the chief executive officer of U.S. Millennials and a veteran of the Texas Army National Guard.