| Guo's story is just one example of the Chinese government's alleged use of civilians, including some who were reportedly coerced, in its repression playbook, which ICIJ detailed in its recent China Targets investigation.
Nicholas Eftimiades, a former U.S. intelligence officer who wrote a book on Chinese espionage, said such cases show the "tremendous" extent of China's global surveillance apparatus, which, he warned, authorities have been slow to comprehend.
"It has real-life consequences," Eftimiades said. "China is effective in destroying opposition, simply because they inspire that type of fear and distrust within those communities." Read more here.
REPRESSION OUTPACES EU
A new ICIJ-led survey of 10 governments about the European Union's response to China's transnational repression found poor coordination and information gaps were hampering the bloc's ability to combat the problem. "Without reliable information on scale, methods, and impact, policymakers and law enforcement cannot respond effectively," one lawmaker said.
THE DATA BEHIND CHINA TARGETS
For China Targets, ICIJ and its media partners interviewed 105 people in 23 countries who were targeted by Chinese authorities for criticizing the government's policies in public and privately. Read how reporters drew on techniques of human rights investigators to identify hallmarks of repression and patterns of abuse.
JOURNALISTS FLEE EL SALVADOR
Escalating government harassment, intimidation and arbitrary press restrictions have forced dozens of journalists from El Salvador into exile for fear of imminent arrest, according to the country's journalists association. That includes several journalists from the award-winning investigative outlet and ICIJ media partner El Faro.
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Joanna Robin
ICIJ's digital editor
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