Instead of shying away from the vitriol, she boldly reposts the offensive content, transforming them into fodder for her comedy routines. "I guess I have no choice but doing a PowerPoint presentation of these cartoons at my next comedy show," Xu quipped on X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
According to Newsweek, Xu's ordeal began over four years ago when she published a report on the forced labor of the Uyghur minority in northwestern China. This led to her being labeled a traitor in Chinese media, and each time her profile gains prominence, she is subjected to a fresh wave of harassment. The nature of these attacks aligns with what online researchers describe as transnational repression, a tactic allegedly employed by the Chinese government to silence critics abroad. The offensive cartoons often depict Xu as a puppet of Western and American interests.
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Xu, a journalist, researcher, and part-time comedian, believes the harassment is a coordinated effort by the Chinese government. "My knowledge would suggest that this is a coordinated campaign coming from the Chinese government to harass and intimidate me into silence or withdraw from public life or expression," she stated. She also noted the impressive dedication of her harassers, who seem to work tirelessly to produce new propaganda against her daily.
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The Chinese embassy in Australia has yet to comment on the matter.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank highlighted in a 2022 report the organized online attacks by the Chinese Communist Party against Asian women who have spoken out against China. Numerous global studies have shown that women are more likely to be targeted by online attacks, which can effectively intimidate them into silence.
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However, Xu refuses to be silenced. She admits to initially feeling intimidated but has since developed a tolerance for the abuse. "The first time this happened, it wasn't funny at all. It was just traumatising. But then, over time, I kind of developed a certain kind of tolerance for it," she shared. As a journalist and comedian, she sees the situation as a goldmine for comedy.
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Xu shared some examples of the death threats she receives, some of which she finds comically poetic. "'What's going to happen first to you tomorrow—is it a car accident, or the sunrise?' I'm just like, huh," she recounted. Another threat involved mixing her ashes with rice and eating it, to which she responded with nonchalance.
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While online threats are concerning, Xu is more worried about the possibility of a real-life attack, a risk not unfamiliar to Chinese dissidents abroad. She revealed that Australian police warned her last year that Chinese spies were attempting to locate her address.
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The recent surge in online attacks followed Xu's outspoken criticism of China's panda diplomacy and the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Canberra in the Australian media. She also criticized the Australian police for their excessive force during a protest against the Communist Party. The Australian Federal Police declined to comment on these matters or the death threats against Xu.
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Despite her humorous responses to her attackers on social media, Xu is not trivializing the situation. She expressed concern for other women, particularly older Chinese activists in more conservative diaspora communities, who might be more severely affected by such harassment. "Most women that I know, like prominent women who deal with this sort of stuff, they ignore it, they don't respond, they don't address that…and they don't want to amplify it in any way. But then they still have to suffer the consequences in private. They still have to deal with it," she said.
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As Xu continues to face these challenges, her story serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers and consequences faced by those who dare to challenge powerful entities and speak out against injustices. Her resilience and determination to continue her work, despite the threats and harassment, is a testament to her commitment to truth and freedom of expression.
