China Targets

How Beijing abuses international institutions to terrorize its critics and extend its repressive tactics worldwide.

In this investigation

OVERVIEW

Inside China’s machinery of repression — and how it crushes dissent around the world

Interviews with more than 100 victims in 23 countries, along with internal government documents, reveal the sinister tactics China uses to silence critics beyond its borders.

By Scilla Alecci | April 28, 2025

INTERPOL

Chinese authorities exploited Interpol and strong-armed one of the world’s richest men to pursue a target

The case involving Alibaba’s Jack Ma shows how China weaponizes the international police agency for political ends.

By Scilla Alecci | April 29, 2025

UNITED NATIONS

At the UN, China is deploying a growing army of puppet organizations to monitor and intimidate human rights activists

Beijing-backed “GONGOs” have transformed the Palais des Nations into a hostile environment for critics of President Xi Jinping.

By Tamsin Lee-Smith | April 28, 2025

About China Targets

Featured investigations

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

A film festival silenced — and the global reach of China’s repression

The abrupt cancellation of an independent Chinese film festival in New York reveals how Beijing and its proxies increasingly pressure critics abroad — a pattern documented by ICIJ and now drawing alarm at the United Nations and the European Parliament.

By Scilla Alecci | Dec 23, 2025

Illustration of people holding protest signs up at a giant surveillance camera peering through the clouds.

CHINA TARGETS

China uses dissidents-turned-spies to infiltrate overseas activist groups, as authorities flounder

Last week in Canada, world leaders jointly condemned transnational repression as a threat to sovereignty. But at home, many are unprepared to deal with China’s far-reaching intimidation of its dissident diaspora, ICIJ’s China Targets investigation has found.

By Scilla Alecci | Jun 23, 2025

INTERPOL

Chinese authorities exploited Interpol and strong-armed one of the world’s richest men to pursue a target

The case involving Alibaba’s Jack Ma shows how China weaponizes the international police agency for political ends.

By Scilla Alecci | Apr 29, 2025

PROTESTS

As President Xi Jinping traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets

In country after country, local authorities detained and silenced activists to shield the Chinese leader from dissent.

By Nicole Sadek | Apr 29, 2025

UNITED NATIONS

At the UN, China is deploying a growing army of puppet organizations to monitor and intimidate human rights activists

Beijing-backed “GONGOs” have transformed the Palais des Nations into a hostile environment for critics of President Xi Jinping.

By Tamsin Lee-Smith | Apr 28, 2025

Illustration showing pile of documents and smaller inset frames of Xi Jinping, Interpol red notices, interrogations and the United Nations.

FAQS

Frequently asked questions about the China Targets investigation

What's transnational repression? Is China Targets based on leaked documents? What's a GONGO? These questions and more, answered.

By Nicole Sadek | Apr 28, 2025

OVERVIEW

Inside China’s machinery of repression — and how it crushes dissent around the world

Interviews with more than 100 victims in 23 countries, along with internal government documents, reveal the sinister tactics China uses to silence critics beyond its borders.

By Scilla Alecci | Apr 28, 2025

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Latest from China Targets

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

A film festival silenced — and the global reach of China’s repression

Dec 23, 2025

European Parliament's leaders have rejected calls for a full inquiry into Luxembourg's tax practices

China Targets

European Parliament pledges to tackle transnational repression against human rights defenders

Nov 14, 2025

Protesters in London hold up signs opposing China's transnational repression.

CHINA TARGETS

New UN report highlights China’s alleged targeting of human rights activists

Oct 15, 2025

Photo of a group of people including Guo Jian in front a banner that reads June 4 1989 Dream of Democracy Spirit of Freedom.

IMPACT

Purported dissident who monitored Chinese activists in Germany convicted of espionage

Oct 02, 2025

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

Canada to announce new foreign interference watchdog to fight transnational repression

Aug 21, 2025

CHINA TARGETS

China uses dissidents-turned-spies to infiltrate overseas activist groups, as authorities flounder

Jun 23, 2025

DATA JOURNALISM

Inside China Targets: The data footprints of China’s transnational repression

Jun 19, 2025

POLICY

Poor coordination, information gaps hamstring EU efforts to combat China’s repression of overseas dissidents

Jun 16, 2025

INSIDE ICIJ

WATCH: Inside China Targets — a live panel with ICIJ reporters

Jun 10, 2025

Canadian MP Jenny Kwan gestures and holds a candle in front of a sign with Chinese and English lettering.

IMPACT

Canadian lawmakers urge action against transnational repression in wake of China Targets probe

Jun 03, 2025

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

Beijing targeted friends of US-based reporter amid campaign against Radio Free Asia, documents reveal

May 27, 2025

Photo of Xi Jinping walking along a red carpet in front of a troop of Malaysian soldiers in white uniforms.

CHINA TARGETS

Ahead of Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia, police arrested dozens of Falun Gong followers

May 15, 2025

IMPACT

Danish politicians call for government inquiry into transnational repression following China Targets investigation

May 07, 2025

Collage of screenshots of China Targets stories

IMPACT

Officials respond as China Targets highlights Beijing’s tactics to silence dissent across continents

May 02, 2025

INTERPOL

中国滥用国际刑警组织　全球首富也被迫协助追捕目标

Apr 29, 2025

PROTESTS

As President Xi Jinping traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets

Apr 29, 2025

Digital repression

Cyberattack against Uyghur rights activists shows hallmarks of Chinese repression tactics, researchers say

Apr 28, 2025

CHINA TARGETS

China Targets

In this investigation

OVERVIEW

By Scilla Alecci | April 28, 2025

INTERPOL

By Scilla Alecci | April 29, 2025

UNITED NATIONS

By Tamsin Lee-Smith | April 28, 2025

About China Targets

Featured investigations

TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION

CHINA TARGETS

INTERPOL

PROTESTS

UNITED NATIONS

FAQS

OVERVIEW

GIVE TO HELP US INVESTIGATE!

Latest from China Targets

A film festival silenced — and the global reach of China’s repression

European Parliament pledges to tackle transnational repression against human rights defenders

New UN report highlights China’s alleged targeting of human rights activists

Purported dissident who monitored Chinese activists in Germany convicted of espionage

Canada to announce new foreign interference watchdog to fight transnational repression

China uses dissidents-turned-spies to infiltrate overseas activist groups, as authorities flounder

Inside China Targets: The data footprints of China’s transnational repression

Poor coordination, information gaps hamstring EU efforts to combat China’s repression of overseas dissidents

WATCH: Inside China Targets — a live panel with ICIJ reporters

Canadian lawmakers urge action against transnational repression in wake of China Targets probe

Beijing targeted friends of US-based reporter amid campaign against Radio Free Asia, documents reveal

Ahead of Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia, police arrested dozens of Falun Gong followers

Danish politicians call for government inquiry into transnational repression following China Targets investigation

Officials respond as China Targets highlights Beijing’s tactics to silence dissent across continents

中国滥用国际刑警组织 全球首富也被迫协助追捕目标

As President Xi Jinping traveled the world, police swept peaceful protesters off the streets

Cyberattack against Uyghur rights activists shows hallmarks of Chinese repression tactics, researchers say

关于 “中国箭靶: 跨国镇压如何渗透全球体系”调查报导

Frequently asked questions about the China Targets investigation

WATCH: Beijing’s strategy to crush dissent around the globe

About the China Targets investigation

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New UN report highlights China’s alleged targeting of human rights activists

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中国滥用国际刑警组织　全球首富也被迫协助追捕目标