The Audio Long Read From the archive: ‘We are so divided now’: how China controls thought and speech beyond its borders
Nov 12, 2025
Explore how China extends its influence and control over Tibetan communities abroad, sparked by the arrest of a Tibetan NYPD officer linked to espionage. Discover the pervasive fears and suspicions that create divides within the diaspora. Hear personal accounts of how invasive visa processes and surveillance affect daily lives and community cohesion. Delve into the United Front Work Department's tactics targeting cultural exchanges and diaspora activism, revealing the complex interplay of trust, identity, and fear in exile.
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NYPD Officer Arrested Over Consulate Contacts
- Ang Wang, a Tibetan NYPD community liaison, was recorded contacting Chinese consulate officials while under FBI surveillance.
- He was charged with wire fraud, false statements, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
China's Global Transnational Repression
- Under Xi, China expanded transnational repression targeting exiles, dissidents, and minorities worldwide.
- Freedom House documents hundreds of overseas attacks, harassment, and intimidation since 2014.
Tibetans' Visa Interviews Raise Fears
- Tibetans form a small but influential diaspora with about 150,000 people abroad and a strong voice via the Dalai Lama.
- Many fear consular visa interviews that collect detailed personal lists and could endanger relatives in Tibet.