The New York Times Distorts US Perception of Communist China and the Persecution of Falun Gong

And good evening and welcome to the Capital Report on Entity Television. I'm Steve Lance and coming up, a peaceful spiritual discipline. Now the target of one of the world's largest newspapers. We'll take a deep dive into the New York Times coverage of Falun Gong and how communist China has its hands behind the narrative. And Vice President Kamala Harris revealing her much anticipated economic plan, which she says will create an opportunity economy. We'll tell you what's in it and bring you the highlights from her speech in North Carolina. And with the goals of exposing the Chinese Communist Party's crimes against humanity and reviving traditional Chinese culture in its purest form, Falun Gong practitioners launched a performing arts company called Shen Yun back in 2006. Since then, the Chinese Communist Party has launched a barrage of attacks against the elite performing arts company. And now the New York Times is apparently joining in in that effort. So why is the American paper doing so? And what kind of impact might it have here at home? To get the details, we're joined by Larry Liu, the deputy director at the Falun Dafa Information Center. Larry Liu, thank you so much for joining. Thank you for having me. So Larry, I want to get your thoughts. The New York Times has released a series of what one might call, I guess, hit pieces against the Falun Gong spiritual practice, as well as the Shen Yun performing arts. One of them appearing to dismiss the practice of forced organ harvesting. What type of evidence is there that this practice does indeed exist? And what interest do you think that the New York Times might have in actually dismissing it? There are tons of evidence out there. You know, the China Tribunal, which is an independent tribunal based in London, led by Sir Geoffrey Nice. Finally, they published their final report in 2020. They spent a year to investigate this forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners' conscience. Their conclusion is unequivocal. They said that their judgment is this. Forced organ harvesting has been carried out on a significant scale for a long time in China. And Falun Gong has been one and probably the primary source of organ supply. And in 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council, there are more than 10 special rapporteurs. Basically, they are top human rights experts. They issued a joint statement, which stated that they believe this evidence is credible. And they were extremely alarmed by this. And top medical journals, like American Journal of Transplantation, like the DMC Medical Ethics, they all published research papers, peer-reviewed papers. And to indicate that the Chinese government's claim of stopping using organs from prisoners in 2015 is a lie. By the way, New York Times' own Beijing correspondent, Didi Kersantalo, and she submitted a written testimony to China Tribunal in 2019, in which she said that she had a very credible source to indicate that. Organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China is a common knowledge among Chinese surgeons. And Chinese surgeons themselves were not even aware of Chinese government's claim of stopping using organs from prisoners in 2015. But I can't believe that New York Times editor considered Chinese government's statement at its face value and take that as a face value. And they suppressed their own reporter from pursuing this story. I have to say, Larry, if it wasn't under such dire circumstances, it would be laughable. But we're talking about human life actually being on the line here. So I guess, you know, to that point, what interest does the New York Times have in dismissing this outright? And like you said, taking CCP state statements at face value? Well, of course, it will certainly avoid them from any serious retaliation from CCP. Maybe CCP even, you know, will likely give them some favor, because they certainly need access to China. And I'm sure, you know, because they have a Chinese language website, too. They need access to China. They need their reporters to be in China. And they may also even have some business interests in China. All of that, you know, we have seen the meeting of the former New York Times publisher with the former Chinese Communist Party leader, Jiang Zemin, in 2001. You know, we saw that photo. And only after a few days after that meeting, the New York Times website used to be blocked in China, just got unblocked in China. And then they later on started a Chinese language website. Larry, simultaneously, they also seem to be targeting the Shen Yun Performing Arts. The New York Times is in a separate piece being released today. This is Shen Yun, a company that was established by Falun Gong practitioners. They appear to have, the New York Times, spoken with some disgruntled employees, former employees that worked with the company. What can you tell us about the nature of this type of reporting? Well, I'm sure for any top schools, top universities, there are some certain percentage, maybe 10% or even, you know, 15% of students who couldn't graduate. For any top companies, there are some employees, former employees who left the company with some grudge or even being fired from the company. And if you describe a company or university only just based on such a small percentage people's complaint, I don't think anybody would consider that as a fair portray of the company or the school. And that's exactly what New York Times did. And, you know, I personally know quite a few Falun Gong practitioners who have children like daughters, sons, and performing either with Shen Yun or studying in Feitian Academy of the Arts or Feitian College, the two schools affiliated with Shen Yun. What I learned from them is they had a great time there. You know, they all praise that how their kids are not wasting time on social media anymore, how the school helped to build their character. They excel in their academic study and they travel around the world. They perform at the best, on the best stages around the world. And they told me they had the time of their lives. That's exactly the opposite from the portrayal by New York Times. How many lives have actually been put at risk, especially if this has any effect in dulling, if you will, the urgency of those who are working in various sectors, whether it's the U.S. government and other places, to help end the atrocities being carried out against the Falun Gong community? Basically, New York Times ignored the persecution of Falun Gong over the past 10 years. And that's one of the largest, longest running, and most brutal human rights atrocities of our time. And they essentially ignored it for over a decade. But now Falun Gong has some success. In raising awareness of this persecution and also reviving the nearly destroyed traditional Chinese culture through art, through Shen Yun, on their own. Then New York Times is trying to take it down. And by piling some of the distorted portrayal of Shen Yun from a few just disgruntled former performers. And let me just put it into perspective. Shen Yun has eight large, equally large companies. Each has a large cast of 80 members. So that's about 640 current members of Shen Yun, touring members, artists. I just can't believe that. And it's very sad to see American paper to do the beating of CCP. This is something CCP couldn't imagine in their wildest dream. And certainly, this article will certainly deter any would-be supporter, cast doubt on Falun Gong. And more importantly, I mean, their dismissal of the organ harvesting simply won't cost lives, basically. And considering this, New York Times is a paper that basically buried the Holocaust and they denied the famine in the Ukraine, even though that happened decades ago. But this is just another example of the same path. It's really unspeakable. I mean, for the record, there is overwhelming evidence that forced live organ harvesting state run is taking place. There's been investigators who have called in and pretended that they were looking for organs and had doctors on the phone saying, yeah, they're from living Falun Gong practitioners. They're really healthy. They don't smoke. Basically, open season for these organs. And yet you have the so-called paper of record, the New York Times, not only downplaying it, but basically saying that this doesn't exist. It's really unthinkable. Larry Liu, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. And turning to another aspect of China's influence, it's the dominance in electronics manufacturing. What are the economic and national security threats to the United States and its dependence on China's electronics manufacturing industry? Joining me now to discuss these threats and possible solutions is Brian Kavanaugh, senior vice president of American Global Strategies. He's also a former executive director for strategic planning and integration for the Department of Homeland Security. Brian Kavanaugh, thank you so much for joining. Thank you, Steve. It's great to have you on, Brian. So you recently wrote an editorial piece for The National Interest highlighting China's dominance in electronics manufacturing, recommending economic security strategies to build domestic capability. If you could sort of outline this for us, and how could America's dependence on Chinese digital display technology create vulnerabilities in our national security? Absolutely. I think what China's doing here is a part of its multifaceted economic warfare plan to kind of reestablish itself as the dominant global player in a new world order. The effort for specifically to electronic manufacturing is tied to the Made in China 2025 plan, which China laid out a very clear, the CCP laid out a very clear plan to establish themselves as the primary sole player in the manufacture, innovation of technology, and selling globally all those products. What kind of policy do you think Washington needs to write in order to neutralize this threat from China? It's a really, it's a challenging, complex issue where the heavy subsidization of these Chinese companies makes it nearly impossible for anyone to compete on a global market. But what the United States can do is ban the purchase by federal government entities, and states could do the same thing and say state governments are not going to procure Chinese digital displays. And then let's just use digital displays, for example. Instead, we're going to procure from the United States and from its allies and partners. And what, you know, from a policy perspective, the United States could really encourage our allies and partners to build manufacturing capacity here in the United States. We have a perfect example of this with some of the electronic partners. You look at appliances made by Samsung Electronics. They make dishwashers, refrigerators, semiconductors in Taylor, Texas. So we have examples where our partners and allies have helped grow a more robust and diverse supply chain here domestically. But also, not just U.S., this is an opportunity for us to shine across the globe and also develop these partnerships beyond. So, Brian, how can countries and allies of the United States and free, you know, democratic countries around the world better collaborate to protect their economic and security interests and counter the negative effects of China's market dominance in this field? Well, I think what you're going to see is, if you look at, this is a dumping issue. That's an avenue that countries may pursue. If you look at China's dumping digital displays, similar to what they're doing in Europe right now, they're investigating whether China is dumping autonomous and electronic electric vehicles into the European market. You might be able to look at it through that dumping practice. You should also look at trade policy remedies in terms of tariffs on products that are digital displays coming from China or other electronic equipment. Sadly, they're doing the same thing with semiconductors. You're going to see them start to push against companies like Global Foundries and others across the globe that are doing this, what we would call legacy chips or legacy semiconductors. You're going to see a dramatic play by the Chinese market in that space as well. Brian Kevin, I really appreciate you joining us. Thank you very much. And coming up, what can Vice President Harris and former President Trump do to win support from minority voters this election? We'll discuss with the Democratic Communication Strategists. That and more when we return. I'm Christopher Hultzen. I'm very active. I try to get six miles in a day, at least walking. I thought I had clean mental health. It was a Saturday morning. Normally, I go for my normal walk. With no warning, Chris suffered a near-fatal heart attack. But thankfully, Brian Buckley, a bystander, saw him collapse and rushed to help. He did this big gasp for air and then just stopped. And we completely saw his eyes glaze over. And I see his pulses fading fast and is about to go out. So I start off CPR. It's like I went into autopilot. EMS showed up. They pulled out the AED, you know, things that sink in your moment in your gut, where you're just like, come on, make it, make it. Because of the CPR training that Brian received, Chris did make it and didn't die on the trail that day. CPR training provided by the American Heart Association. This could not happen without monthly donations from friends like you. Call or go online to helpheart.org with your gift of only $19 a month, just 63 cents a day. Your $19 monthly gift will help fund the next medical breakthrough. Get the next hospital certified in high-quality cardiovascular care and get even more people trained in life-saving CPR. Join our community of monthly donors and you'll get this special t-shirt you can wear to show you're helping save lives. Being a father, you want to be around. You want to be around for your kids. Heart disease is America's number one killer and we urgently need your help. Your monthly gift of only $19 a month will help us discover vital medical breakthroughs that can save your life or the life of someone you love. Become a monthly donor today by calling or going online to helpheart.org. Shen Yun Creations, the streaming platform from Shen Yun featuring world-class dance, past programs, and all original music, masterclasses, behind the scenes, comedy, and more. Explore shenyuncreations.com. And welcome back to the Capitol Report. I'm Steve Lance. Vice President Kamala Harris announcing details of her economic plan today in Raleigh, North Carolina. And today's Jason Blair was at that speech and brings us some of the highlights. With about 80 days left until election day, the economy is among the most important issues for voters. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about a plan she's calling an opportunity economy. It includes what the campaign is calling bold actions to quote, cut taxes for the middle class, reduce grocery costs, take on price gouging, lower the cost of owning and renting a home, continue to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, and relieve medical debt for millions of Americans. Harris says she wants to end America's housing shortage and build 3 million new housing units. Part of her plan is a historic move to provide $25,000 in down payment support for first-time homebuyers. The plan would provide quote, working families who have paid their rent on time for two years and are buying their first home up to $25,000 in down payment assistance, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners. Home ownership and what that means, it's a symbol of the pride that comes with hard work. Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance responded to this plan saying, this will only further exasperate the housing shortage in our country. Vance also pointed out that Harris's plan for a child tax credit is similar to one he proposed earlier in the week, which would expand the credit to $5,000. Harris stated Friday that she wants to expand the child tax credit to $6,000 per child for families with newborn children. We know this works and has a direct impact on so many issues, including child poverty. And the Harris-Walz campaign has taken a very pro-union stance. They've spoken at a couple of union events already during their campaign, and both have a history of showing support for organized labor. Ahead of next week's Democratic National Convention, Harris, her running mate Tim Walz and their spouses will do a one-day Western Pennsylvania bus tour in key battleground areas on Sunday. According to her campaign, they'll make multiple stops in historically blue Allegheny County and conservative-leaning Beaver County in community settings like retail spaces. Reporting in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jason Blair, NTD News. And as Vice President Kamala Harris unveils her economic policies, former President Trump's campaign is hitting back by highlighting their policies to tackle inflation and fight crime in communities throughout the U.S. Joining us now live is NTD's White House correspondent, Iris Tao. Good evening, Iris. So tell us, what approach is the Trump campaign trying to highlight here? Good evening to you, Steve. In a call with reporters today, former President Trump's campaign advisors were particularly critical of Vice President Kamala Harris's proposal for a federal ban on price gouging. They called it price control that are something out of Venezuela or Cuba. And yesterday during a press conference at his Bedminster golf club, Trump also called the approach communist. Here's what he said. If they worked, I'd go along with it too, but they don't work. They actually have the exact opposite impact and effect, but it leads to food shortages, rationing, hunger, dramatically more inflation. And today, Republican Vice Presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance was continuing his swing through the Midwest with a stop at a Milwaukee police union to talk about crime. The Milwaukee Police Association today endorsed Trump and in their letters laid out concerns over quote, low bail for dangerous criminals, low police morale in an often anti-police society, and a staffing crisis that requires officers to spend even more time away from their families. Vance in a speech says the campaign is trying to focus on policy solutions. We are focusing a lot on policy. How can you have poor children who look to the future with optimism and hope if they can't walk down the streets of their neighborhoods safely? That said, last week, the White House highlighted new data showing violent crime quo at a 50-year low. We'll hear more from Trump himself on these issues this Saturday when he holds a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. And today, Trump's campaign also announced that next Monday, Trump and J.D. Vance will return to Pennsylvania, an important swing state in this election. And that's after Trump told me yesterday after the presser that he would just watch as the Democratic National Convention unfolds. Steve. Thank you for that update, Iris. The Democratic National Convention is kicking off after the weekend. It will be here Monday, and we'll take you there on the ground with interviews and in-house analysis. You can join me and Tiffany Meyer for insight into the Democratic platform. That's Monday through Thursday next week, starting at 5 p.m. right here on NTD News. In New Jersey, we'll soon have a replacement for Senator Bob Menendez, who's resigning next week. Governor Phil Murphy this afternoon formally appointing his former chief of staff, George Helmy. George, George is the ideal leader to take on this role, and he has more relevant experience under his belt than perhaps anybody in New Jersey. For one, he is the longest-serving gubernatorial chief of staff in state history. Helmy will serve for just a few months until the November election. After that, whoever wins will fill the post. It's likely that it will be Congressman Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee. Republican Curtis Bashaw is also in the race, but it's considered a challenge to flip that seat from blue to red, as a Republican has not won a Senate race in New Jersey for decades. Senator Menendez was a longtime senator serving that state since 1993. He's resigning after being found guilty on public corruption charges in federal court. And back to the New York Times. Their mission statement aspires to, quote, seek the truth and help people understand the world. But some are questioning that objective today, in light of the paper's article targeting the Falun Gong spiritual practice, which is being heavily persecuted in communist China. NTD Sam Wong has more. The New York Times has published a string of articles containing negative portrayals of a spiritual group. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. But how did it become the target of a smear campaign? It dates back to 2001, when several editors from the New York Times met with then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, the individual who initiated the persecution of Falun Gong. The Times then released a flattering interview with Jiang, and was later granted unrestricted access in China. In a tragic sense, Falun Gong is sort of a canary in the coal mine. It is the tragic test case of what happens, what the CCP is really about. And if you can pay attention to that, you can be clear on how the CCP might be coming after all of us, and already is, on many different fronts. On July 20, 1999, Falun Gong practitioners in China found themselves the target of a nationwide persecution campaign. Many were subject to surveillance, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture. In 2020, the London-based China Tribunal concluded that Falun Gong practitioners were victims of the Chinese Communist Party's state-sponsored forced organ harvesting. According to human rights lawyer David Matus, a former New York Times reporter who covered organ transplant abuse in China submitted a written statement to the tribunal. She said her pursuit of the story was thwarted by her senior editors. The reporter left the paper in 2017. Just recently, leaked internal documents from China suggest that eliminating Falun Gong remains a top priority for the CCP, and its tactics include using social media influencers and journalists to spread disinformation about the practice itself and its affiliated dance troupe Shen Yun. Today, the persecution of Falun Gong is condemned by human rights advocates and government officials worldwide. This bill is the first binding commitment by Congress to take strong legal action against the persecution and forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong, making Falun Gong the centerpiece of legislation and action long overdue after 25 years. In June, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Falun Gong Protection Act. The legislation seeks to sanction those involved in China's forced organ harvesting. As recently as June, the U.S. State Department called on the CCP to end the quote depraved practice of forced organ harvesting and described it as a quote blatant abuse of human rights. Sam Wong, NTD News. And that is all we have for you tonight on the Capitol Report. You can watch my discussion with David Morgan, president of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association at NTD.com. Take a close look at how the Harris and Trump campaigns are appealing to Black voters. From the nation's Capitol, I'm Steve Lance. Have a great weekend. See you back here Monday.