On May 15, 2024, the Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) at the University of South 91社区 (USF) hosted its third GNSI Policy Dialogues, "Endangered Freedoms: Transnational Repression in North America." The Policy Dialogues series focuses on specific issues affecting national security, bringing together some of the best and brightest strategic thinkers, leaders, and subject matter experts from around the globe. The over-arching goal of the Policy Dialogues series is to provide policymakers and thought leaders with a broader understanding of the various challenges facing the United States.
GNSI鈥檚 Policy Dialogues conference on Transnational Repression examined how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has targeted the overseas Uyghur, Tibetan, and Hong Kong communities. Speakers shed light on how the People鈥檚 Republic of China has established police stations in countries around the world, including the United States, and uses these installations as key nodes in a systematic global effort to monitor, harass, and intimidate both Chinese and third-country citizens.
You can watch all of the conference videos at the on our YouTube Channel.
Direct links to specific videos are noted below.
Morning Session
The conference host, Jim Cardoso, Senior Director at the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South 91社区, welcomed the audience to the Patel Center for Global Solutions Auditorium.
Following the opening and welcome, Dr. Eric Eisenberg, Senior Vice President of University-Community Partnerships at USF, stressed the need for universities to create a safe environment for all USF students and to look deeper into the experiences of all students on campus.
Taking the stage after Dr. Eisenberg, Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur
Human Rights Project, started the day's discussion with a historical look at the ways
Uyghur鈥檚 civil and political rights have been violated. He detailed how the Chinese
government鈥檚 efforts have evolved to control and repress Uyghurs within China and
abroad by way of online threats and harassment. 鈥淚n short, the scale of China's
translational repression of Uyghurs is breathtaking. From the rendition of individuals
to the everyday online threats, there is no peace for Uyghurs living overseas.鈥� 
Following Kanat鈥檚 remarks, in a short, recorded video, spoke to the CCP鈥檚 repressive actions against Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, and Falun Gong practitioners. He highlighted his efforts to pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and warned about the CCP's influence in the U.S.
The morning session concluded with the day's first discussion panel, with Panel 1: Threads of Oppression: The Global Impact of Transnational Repression.
The panel featured:
David Oakley, PhD (Moderator), Academic Director, Global and National Security Institute
, Associate Professor of Political Science, Eckerd College
Campaign Director, Safeguard Defenders
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Afternoon Session
The afternoon started with a fireside chat and Q&A Discussion of the documentary The , former ambassador-at-Large for Global Women鈥檚 Issues at the U.S State Department led the discussion with , the central figure in the film. The two discussed Jewher鈥檚 experience as the daughter of a jailed Uyghur scholar, Ilham Tohti, after he was arrested on his way to the U.S. Jewher described how she has been monitored and threatened by the CCP and the struggles she faces, along with other activists, as they speak out. But she also explained her reason for speaking out. 鈥淧eople live in this world not only for ourselves but for the existence of our loved ones, right? At least, that's how I believe human lives are alike. And we don't only live for ourselves, we live for our loved ones, but if all of our loved ones are no longer here with us, then what other choice do we [have] besides fighting?鈥�
The day concluded with Panel 2: The Human Toll: Living with Transnational Repression.
The panel featured:
Jeff Rogg, PhD (Moderator), Resident Senior Research Fellow at GNSI
Global Activist Fighting Chinese Transnational Repression
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
Save the Dates:
September 24-25
GNSI Tampa Summit 4: Middle East Collective Security
featuring the 10th Great Power Competition Conference (GPC10)
November 11-14
GNSI Policy Dialogues:
Untying the Gordian Know: Envisioning Peace in the Middle East
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