- Xiaolei Wu, 25, is a student at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
- Charged with one count of stalking in a federal court in the US.
- Could spend up to five years in jail, pay a fine of up to $250,000.
A Chinese student was charged with one count of stalking in a federal court in the US after allegedly harassing and threatening someone who supported democracy in China, according to US officials.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Xiaolei Wu, a 25-year-old student at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, could spend up to five years in jail, three years under close supervision after being released, and pay a fine of up to $250,000.
According to a complaint, Wu allegedly sent threatening messages to a person who posted a flier on or near the college campus supporting Chinese democracy. “Post more, I will chop your bastard hands off,” Wu reportedly said on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app.
According to charging documents, Wu allegedly reported the defendant to the Chinese authorities and promised to “welcome” their family members.
In an effort to harass the person, Wu allegedly also asked people to find out where they lived and posted their email address online in a public forum.
After the court appearance, he was freed, a US Attorney’s Office spokeswoman told Media. If he made a plea, it’s unclear. The Federal Public Defender Office in Massachusetts, which is representing Wu, has been contacted by Media for comment.
According to a statement released by the college on Wednesday night, Wu has been suspended from Berklee College of Music.
“The described behavior is troubling to Berklee,” the school said. “We cannot, however, comment on ongoing law enforcement investigations.”
An increasing number of overseas Chinese students have stepped forward to defend Beijing from any criticism or perceived slights in recent years as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stoked nationalism at home and pursued an assertive foreign policy abroad – sometimes with the blessing of Chinese embassies.
When a California university invited the Dalai Lama to attend as a guest speaker, there were protests; when other student groups declared support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, there were fights; and when lecturers were seen to be teaching “anti-China” material.
However, not all Chinese students studying abroad share the rising nationalist mood. Many people who disagree with the policies of China’s Communist Party, which is currently in power, simply decide to remain silent.
For them, there are just too many risks involved in openly opposing Beijing. Those who spoke out in the past have been subject to harassment and intimidation, reprisals against family members at home, and lengthy prison sentences upon returning to China.
Chinese students who spoke with Media said they were concerned about being seen by Beijing’s supporters who they feared could expose them on Chinese social media or report them to embassies even when they participated in rare acts of protest earlier this year, with many posting anti-Xi slogans around their campuses in solidarity with a lone protester in Beijing.
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