outside mainland china practice combines meditation moral philosophy articulated founder began spreading widely china lectures outside mainland china took place paris invitation chinese ambassador france teachings practice methods embassy staff time gave lectures major cities europe asia oceania north_america resided permanently united_states practiced countries worldwide teachings translated languages international community estimated number hundreds thousands participation estimates account lack formal membership persecuted mainland china response practitioners world conducted activities aimed raising awareness related human rights issues include lobbying passing participating sit ins chinese staging demonstrations established media outlets founded advocacy research organizations report information persecution china launched lawsuits alleged architects participants persecution campaign foreign governments united_nations human rights organizations expressed concerns allegations torture ill treatment practitioners china nonetheless observers noted failed attract level sympathy sustained international attention afforded chinese christians democracy activists attributed group skills impact communist_party propaganda practice foreign nature teachings identify buddhist traditions history traveled china giving week long spiritual philosophy exercises meditation practices late declared finished work teaching practice china content lectures compiled book published january later year left china began teaching practice overseas beginning stop chinese embassy paris march followed lectures sweden gave lectures united_states canada australia new_zealand germany switzerland singapore associations clubs began appearing europe north_america australia activities centered mainly university campuses practice began outside china recipient measure recognition united_states western world august city houston named honorary citizen goodwill ambassador public service benefit welfare mankind welcomed toronto mayor provincial governor general months followed received recognition cities chicago translations teachings began appearing late 1990s practice beginning attract overseas constituency remained relatively unknown western world spring tensions communist_party authorities subject international media coverage increased attention practice gained greater following outside china following launch communist_party persecution overseas presence vital practice resistance china continued survival organization minimal organizational structure rigid hierarchy physical places worship fees formal membership matter significance intended having little material formal organization practitioners forbidden donations charge fees practice similarly forbidden teach interpret teachings absence membership initiation rituals chooses identify students participate practice follow teachings little like practitioners believe behave said highly centralized sense spiritual practical authority dispersed spiritual authority practice absolute organization works control intervene personal lives practitioners little contact study teachings volunteer assistants contact persons coordinate local activities hold authority practitioners regardless long practiced collect money conduct teach interpret doctrine structure lack membership makes difficult gauge scope size communities outside china local groups post practice site times websites attempt practitioners certain areas historian notes mid- upper level tiers organization information says practitioners members organization fill forms point extent organization achieved accomplished partly global virtual community particular electronic communications email lists collection websites primary means coordinating activities teachings addition teachings internet serves forge maintain community medium raising awareness persecution china practitioners maintain hundreds websites world contain content chinese english include german french russian portuguese spanish japanese languages reliance internet means organizing led group characterization observers virtual religious community scholars wary significance internet instance believes internet significant factor attracting people practice instead influence family friends prospect better health far important establishing initial interest spiritual practice little clear organization practitioners organized considerably establishing research advocacy organizations media groups arts companies group exercise study outside mainland china network volunteer contact persons regional university clubs exists approximately countries mid- large sized cities practitioners organize regular group meditation study sessions practice exercises read read writings exercise meditation sessions described informal groups practitioners gather public parks usually morning hours group study sessions typically place evenings private residences university high school classrooms described closest thing regular experience offers individuals busy isolated simply prefer elect practice privately large experience sharing conferences held months major metropolitan areas students read prepared detailing experiences practice conferences attract audiences thousands provide venue address practitioners practitioners encouraged engage activities meaning making known way chinese term interpreted refer belief individuals obtain practice practitioners actively attempt convert people activities include handing subway mall leaving literature stores libraries etc participating activities marches chinese cultural events demographics confirms estimates practiced hundreds thousands people outside china largest communities found taiwan north american cities large chinese populations new_york toronto demographic surveys north american communities found practitioners ethnic chinese europe average age approximately survey respondents female male married surveys found respondents highly educated held master degrees bachelor degree practitioners north_america chinese students emigrated 1980s 1990s research ohio practitioners found chinese graduate students family members similar results north american practitioners borne professor internet survey found chinese respondents living western nations uniformly educated clearly representing elite respondents holding master degree higher respondents singapore malaysia mixed educational profile minority holding university degrees north american practitioners learned leaving china suggests appealed broad spectrum social groups including university professors students high party government officials educated members comfortable middle class old unemployed desperate contrast typical mainland chinese likely female survey practitioners conferences montreal toronto boston found average chinese north_america young urban dynamic non chinese practitioners tend fit profile non spiritual people tried variety religious practices finding stands contrast standard profile chinese described straight arrows reasons practicing surveys practitioners north_america commonly reported reasons attracted practice teachings cultivation exercises health benefits study conducted close practitioners said attracted intellectual content spiritual enlightenment health benefits exercises community intellectual content according refers value doctrine describing functioning moral physical universe survey found spiritual teachings promise good health common reasons people taken practice survey respondents gave master philosophy answers life difficult questions primary attraction practice attracted health benefits drawn moral principles books exercises small numbers variety factors respondents apparently realized forms shallow superficial came believe complete comprehensive system spiritual cultivation planet survey practitioners asked attraction focus practice changed time claimed change started intention gaining enlightenment goal practice time emphasis health improvements experienced came relatively trivial result cultivation respondents said felt newfound sense moral spiritual growth discovered firm determination carry cultivation end goal enlightenment matter obstacles appear path overseas responses persecution china july communist_party initiated campaign including use imprisonment torture measures propaganda communities inside outside china adopted variety approaches resist persecution china tactics range engagement media lobbying governments public protests demonstrations attempts seek legal persecution china progressed overseas efforts increasingly tied pleas relief western human rights discourse emphasizing implications freedom speech assembly conscience legal initiatives lawyers acting behalf practitioners filed dozens largely symbolic lawsuits world chinese officials alleging genocide crimes humanity according international advocates justice filed largest number human rights lawsuits 21st century charges severe international crimes defined international criminal laws civil criminal lawsuits way countries instances courts refused cases chinese officials grounds sovereign immunity november indicted spanish court charges genocide crimes humanity involvement persecution month later argentine judge concluded adopted strategy pursuing asked seek arrest lawsuit filed behalf practitioners technology giant suit based mainly internal documents technology company designed implemented surveillance system knowing root members religion subject detention forced labor torture denies products facilitate censorship repression addition high profile lawsuits chinese officials corporations practitioners filed number complaints civil suits alleging discrimination outside china centered chinese community complaints groups barred participating events mixed results canada new_york practitioners won chinese businesses community organizations basis religious creed practitioners involved number cases chinese language media outlets agents chinese government canadian won libel case officer chinese toronto called member sinister cult newspaper article pan ordered pay damages left country paying canada ruled chinese language newspaper les presses depicted practice dangerous court award damages basis targeted group individual media organizations early 2000s practitioners united_states began establishing chinese language media organizations gain wider exposure cause challenge narratives dominant chinese state run media include newspaper new dynasty television sound hope radio station addition carrying content related vocal critics communist_party policies generally carrying reports human rights issues china corruption environment public health issues topics according communications professor media organizations example entered facto media alliance china democracy movements exile demonstrated frequent printing articles prominent overseas chinese critics mainland chinese government initially created address needs chinese language media market media organizations expanded dozens additional languages newspaper distributed countries languages satellite cable presence north_america europe asia produces programs languages organizations maintain formally affiliated lacks centralized organization funds staff practitioners contribute volunteer basis demonstrations sit ins launch persecution campaign practitioners outside china began holding frequent protests rallies appeals include large scale marches demonstrations coincide notable april july marches typically involve participants holding signs banners different sections parade different aspects persecution usually section involving participants wearing white mourning holding photos killed china practitioners stage sit ins demonstrations outside chinese practitioners vancouver canada continue stage world longest continuous protest persecution runs hours day entrance street june announced mayor vancouver protest signs structures taken accordance law building permanent structures public property appeal ruled city order remove protest structures unconstitutional structure restored significant dates persecution marked protests communities world instance anniversary july marked rally capitol attended thousand practitioners diplomatic visits high ranking chinese officials met demonstrations practitioners contrast marches focus bringing attention persecution china celebratory usually incorporate traditional style chinese dances costumes song exercise demonstrations drumming banners practitioners regularly hold public exhibitions chinese cultural performances coincide anniversary practice public teaching china practitioners utilize parade venues world group message arts culture number practitioners organizations outside china engaged promotion classical visual performing arts practitioners frame wider cultural tradition gave rise chinese arts describe having persecuted attacked communist_party rule trained visual arts held exhibitions works means representing beliefs practice raising awareness persecution china include australian painter imprisoned china practicing canadian citizen professor imprisoned china collective visual artists exhibit art travels internationally practitioners backgrounds classical chinese dance music established new_york state comprises separate companies dancers musicians tour internationally stated mission reviving years inspired chinese culture performance programs consists classical chinese dance ethnic folk dance solo musicians narrative dances portray local productions presented host city new dynasty television station founded chinese american practitioners variety cultural outreach programs mission promote appreciation awareness traditional chinese culture station began organizing series annual competitions open ethnic chinese participants fields classical chinese dance martial arts traditional clothing design painting music photography chinese cooking research advocacy organizations supporters practitioners established number research advocacy organizations involved reporting human rights abuses china presenting information western governments organizations include information center volunteer run organization presents official source human rights crisis china functions largely press office publishing press releases annual reports conducts similar research issues reports persecution china presenting findings united_nations research organization dedicated investigating criminal conduct institutions organizations individuals involved persecution supporters founded groups tools roughly coinciding launch persecution chinese authorities began establishing system internet censorship surveillance referred golden shield time information relating consistently primary targets censorship monitoring internet practitioners reportedly captured sent prison labor camps distributing information online north american computer scientists began developing tools enable mainland china access information software tools popular means government controls internet countries initiatives campaigns practitioners launched number campaigns bring attention treatment china notable examples include toured countries ahead beijing olympics relay intended draw attention range human rights issues china connection olympics especially related received support hundreds elected officials past olympic human rights groups concerned organizations practitioners inside outside china involved promotion movement phenomenon editorial series late movement encourages chinese citizens renounce including post facto practitioners outside china phone calls mainland china inform citizens movement statements attempts persecution overseas communist_party communist_party campaign extended communities including use media espionage monitoring practitioners harassment violence practitioners diplomatic pressure applied foreign governments overseas websites according chinese sydney australia war main tasks chinese mission overseas unanimously passed resolution condemning attacks practitioners united_states agents communist_party resolution reported party pressured local elected officials united_states refuse withdraw support spiritual group houses broken individuals engaged peaceful protest actions outside physically assaulted overseas campaign described documents issued china report meeting directors national provincial municipal level office stated coordinates launching struggles overseas overseas chinese citizens participate implementing executing party line party guiding principles party policies aggressively expand struggle ethnic independent activists abroad party state organs believed involved overseas campaign include office surveillance espionage political consul chinese sydney victim torture china sought asylum australia making claims chinese agents engaged large scale operations monitor undermine support outside china alleged primary function involved efforts monitor harass minimize support practice australian media elected officials stated espionage intimidation practitioners overseas common accustomed australia worked city claims job involved collection analysis intelligence reports europe australia north_america local offices involved espionage efforts abroad china conducts domestic international intelligence claimed repression monitoring underground christians practitioners major focus ministry agent working chinese embassy berlin recruited german act informant agent reportedly arranged meeting sun men purported scholars chinese medicine interested researching sun agreed pass information ostensibly hoping understanding practice men fact high ranking agents shanghai sun maintained knowledge men corresponding chinese intelligence agents nonetheless convicted espionage according case demonstrated important fighting chinese government points extremely offensive approach taken chinese intelligence agencies chinese authorities reportedly maintain lists high profile overseas practitioners use impose travel restrictions practitioners chinese sydney said approximately australian practitioners claimed sought remove names order prevent potential protests beijing olympics authorities imposed overseas practitioners preventing traveling china categories individuals including counter revolutionary figures chinese authorities tolerated religious items olympics exception materials ahead olympic games chinese public security bodies reportedly requested lists japanese practitioners government japan request denied june visited iceland authorities complied requests chinese government deny entry practitioners sought enter country protest provided china hundreds practitioners turned away national airline detained managed country ignited protests citizens members parliament iceland foreign minister issued apology violating practitioners freedom expression movement august airline australian airline demoted short haul flights threatened chinese officials beijing spite having flown times practiced freely hong_kong practitioners abroad reported entering territory hong_kong officials admitted deny entry approximately practitioners visit communist_party chief canadian book tour denied entry territory practitioners united_states switzerland separately denied entry professional research trips practitioners blocked entering hong_kong hundreds blocked entering hong_kong detained airport events set year human rights case tested integrity country systems arrangement case hong_kong immigration department dismissed months later hong_kong immigration officials denied members dance company scheduled perform territory january democratic_party chairman said denial worrying new erosion hong_kong freedoms damaged reputation hong_kong liberal open society court ruling march overturned decision disruption monitoring electronic communications practitioners outside china reported having telephone lines tapped electronic correspondence monitored websites based outside china earliest targets chinese denial service attacks according chinese internet expert dated stock footage aired staff carrying attacks websites violence isolated instances violence practitioners reportedly committed agents chinese government abroad connection chinese authorities difficult verify september practitioners assaulted demonstrating outside chinese chicago later convicted battery members chinese american association connections chinese year old ottawa reported kicked dragged beaten inside chinese embassy caught taking pictures anti exhibit held embassy responded disrupted normal functioning event june australian injured drive shooting south_africa purpose visit protest outside south_africa china commission meetings launch lawsuit high ranking chinese officials involvement persecution practitioners drive shooting assassination attempt noted attempt rob officials denied involvement december argentine practitioners filed lawsuit office chief member visited country visit practitioners beaten chinese buenos_aires congress square police reportedly ordered intervene argentina director suggested assaults connected officials chinese government spring summer practitioners new_york targets sustained violence largely ethnic chinese neighborhood queens groups chinese reportedly punched assaulted threw rocks practitioners leading multiple arrests chinese consul general new_york reportedly involved violence providing guidance diplomatic commercial pressure representatives party state typically acting china overseas diplomatic mission applied diplomatic commercial pressure foreign governments media organizations private enterprises regards north_america chinese agents reportedly visited newspaper offices virtues communist china instances international media organizations cancelled print articles response requests chinese government instance pressure chinese embassy ottawa pull documentary set air washington_post commissioned feature article article killed immediately chinese embassy aware according journalist chinese diplomats politicians support recognize threaten expressions support trade relations china wall_street_journal reported hundreds american municipalities received letters chinese diplomatic missions urging approaches combine gross scare tactics cases implied diplomatic commercial pressure according pressure western institutions takes subtle forms including academic self censorship research avoided result denial china noted media organizations human rights groups self censor topic given government attitude practice potential repercussions follow making overt representations behalf governments private enterprises come pressure china censor media organizations operated practitioners instance french satellite provider suspended asian broadcasts new dynasty television response pressure china film television viewed pro quo attempt secure access chinese market pressure chinese authorities vietnamese government tried practitioners operating radio station broadcasting information china pair charged broadcasting sentenced years prison earlier year radio station operated practitioners indonesia diplomatic pressure china international reception response western governments human rights organizations expressed condemnation suppression china plight members united_states congress public introduced resolutions support house resolution described set spiritual religious moral teachings daily life meditation exercise based principles compassion tolerance called immediate end campaign torture practitioners condemned chinese authorities efforts distribute false propaganda practice worldwide expressed sympathy persecuted practitioners families torture executions violence women freedom religion belief issued numerous reports condemning persecution china relayed hundreds cases concern chinese authorities instance special killings wrote reports china describe scenes followers movement die result severe ill treatment neglect medical attention cruelty brutality alleged acts torture description special freedom religion belief condemned minority religious groups governments iran china treatment faith respectively small communities witnesses frequently meet societal fully fledged conspiracy theories said general assembly persecution drawn considerable condemnation outside china observers note failed attract level sympathy sustained attention afforded chinese groups vice chair international religious freedom notes americans aware persecution christian groups pro democracy free speech advocates know little china assault western media reports particular practitioners frequent mixed half volume media reports declined coverage major news organizations like new_york_times washington_post completely ceased particularly china study media discourse researcher found western news organizations balanced likely present narratives communist_party human rights groups writes foreign media adopted variety frames reporting including linking historical china reporting human rights violations group practice based reporting experience ultimately frank writes reporting western tradition casting chinese exotic took dominance facts generally correct millions chinese practitioners associated practice disappeared observes sympathy undermined impact cult label applied practice chinese authorities entirely went away minds stigma plays role public perceptions journalist reporting china early 1990s attempted explain apparent public sympathy stemming group shortcomings public relations unlike democracy activists found comfortable place western perceptions marched distinctly chinese drum according coupled western skepticism persecuted refugees resulted perception practitioners tended facts observes lacks robust backing american usually support religious freedom liberals wary conservative morality christian conservatives don accord practice space persecuted christians political center wary disrupting commercial political relations chinese government practitioners largely rely resources responding persecution
Falun Gong outside mainland China