Appeal for Assistance from Chinese Refugees Stranded in Southeast Asia on World Refugee Day

On June 20, World Refugee Day was observed, and many Chinese refugees stranded in Southeast Asia for years appealed to the United Nations for assistance.

Due to the oppression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), numerous Chinese citizens have left their homes seeking asylum in other countries in the face of religious, political, and economic persecution. Southeast Asian nations often serve as transit points, but obtaining refugee status there is challenging, with the constant threat of deportation to China.

Since 2019, no Falun Gong practitioner seeking asylum in Malaysia has been granted refugee status, with approximately 60 to 70 practitioners currently stranded in the country.

Malaysia

Xiao Shan, a senior engineer from Liaoning Province, shared his story with The Epoch Times. He faced persecution by the CCP for practicing Falun Gong and fled to Malaysia in 2019 to seek asylum after being detained twice in China for his faith.

Despite receiving a protection letter in 2022, Xiao Shan has yet to be recognized as a refugee, similar to some of his friends who have waited over a decade in Malaysia before being able to transition to a third country.

Tong Yimin, another Falun Gong practitioner and Chinese artist seeking refuge in Malaysia, detailed his harrowing experiences with CCP persecution dating back to 1999. He highlighted the challenges faced in Malaysia due to the lack of refugee status, affecting his children’s education and their overall livelihood.

Thailand

Over 100 Falun Gong practitioners remain stranded in Thailand, facing even more hardships. Dong Junming, a former military officer from Hebei Province who fled to Thailand in 2014 with his family, shared their decade-long wait for resettlement to Canada.

Thailand does not recognize refugees, posing risks even for those with UN refugee cards, who could still face detention in immigration centers.

Mr. Dong highlighted the dire conditions in immigration prisons, emphasizing the challenges and dangers faced by detainees, including the possibility of deportation.

Aside from Falun Gong practitioners, numerous Chinese Christians, human rights activists, petitioners, and democracy advocates in Southeast Asia seek UN asylum after suffering persecution by the CCP.

The report also mentioned the CCP’s covert operations targeting Chinese dissidents in Southeast Asia, with instances of transnational abductions or entrapments to bring them back to China.

As the number of Chinese nationals fleeing China rises, concerns grow over their safety and the CCP’s reach, particularly in Southeast Asian countries.

Li Yun contributed to this report.