China Uses Political Leverage To Influence Foreign Courts

The Chinese government’s power to prosecute — or persecute — critics does not stop at its borders. On April 13, a court in Kazakhstan sentenced 19 activists to prison after they protested Beijing’s human rights violations in the Xinjiang region by demonstrating, burning the Chinese flag, and burning an image of Xi Jinping. For “inciting ethnic hatred,” 11 of the 19 received five-year prison terms, while the others received parole sentences referred to as “restrictions of freedom.” Though these cases involved Kazakh citizens and courts, human rights organizations indicate the sentences resulted from Chinese pressure.

China likely used its economic and political power over Kazakhstan as leverage over Astana’s domestic affairs. Kazakhstan stands to gain from Chinese partnership and has initiated efforts to issue Central Asia’s first yuan-denominated bonds, known as “panda” bonds, transport Chinese cargo, coordinate with Chinese companies, and build on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Reporting also suggests Kazakh authorities may view the arrangement as a quid pro quo for China’s support of prior Kazakh domestic repression. In multiple countries around the world, China’s leverage allows it to quash criticism of the Chinese Communist Party.

China’s Hand Is Apparent in Kazakhstan

The convicted activists launched their protest in response to Beijing’s repression of its Kazakh, Uyghur, and other minorities, which the United States has recognized as genocide. While the demonstrators initially received fines or several-day prison terms for assembling without authorization, Kazakh authorities added criminal charges following a letter from China’s Foreign Ministry conveying its “profound concern.” The following Kazakh indictment directly cited the Foreign Ministry’s communique.

One of the protesters’ husband — a Kazakhstani truck driver who renounced his Chinese citizenship more than five years prior — was detained in China in 2025 on unformalized charges. The religious freedom group ChinaAid has noted that Chinese officials said the man “participated in illegal religious activities.” Beijing, however, has claimed the driver is a Chinese citizen under their authority, even as his family produced his Chinese passport, stamped “cancelled.” This situation is particularly abnormal as China does not officially recognize dual citizenship.

China Uses Extrajudicial Means To Target Minorities, Dissent

China has a history of leveraging its bilateral ties to persecute Uyghurs, the most prominent targeted group in Xinjiang. In February 2025, Thailand, a U.S. treaty ally, forcibly repatriated 40 Uyghurs to China, publicly rejecting offers from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Australia to accept the refugees, out of fear of Chinese government retaliation. As a result, the State Department canceled or restricted visas for several high-ranking Thai authorities involved in the transfer while publicly warning other countries against deporting Uyghurs to China. At least 28 countries — including Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates — are also believed to have supported Chinese targeting of Uyghurs or aided their deportation to China.

China has a pattern of targeting critics of many different kinds abroad, including through foreign enablers. In at least seven incidents, foreign law enforcement officers violated protesters’ rights to hide dissent from Chinese leader Xi Jinping during foreign visits. Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian intergovernmental organization, meanwhile, have agreed to arrest and extradite “criminals” without requiring evidence since 2009.

Astana’s Treatment of Dissidents Has Implications for Investment

In targeting foreign dissenters, China aims to hide human rights abuses while cementing Beijing’s control over Chinese civil society. Drawing global attention to China’s efforts in Kazakhstan can ensure its coercion backfires by shining a brighter light on what China hopes to hide. The United States has a powerful diplomatic pulpit from which it can expose the strings that are attached to Chinese partnership.

The United States should also consider Kazakh acquiescence to Chinese pressure to be a hurdle to U.S.-Kazakhstani investment. Proposed partnership includes hundreds of millions in investment support for minerals projects, which should not benefit parties that turn a blind eye to repression. The United States could also use sanctions investigations, or the potential for such investigations, as leverage under the Global Magnitsky Act, a punitive tool that targets individual officials for related human rights issues. Continued accountability for enablers matters.

Angela Howard is a research analyst at the Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Jack Burnham is a senior research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Follow FDD on X @FDD and @FDD_CEFP. For more analysis from Angela, Jack and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Angela on X at @angela__howard and Jack on X @JackBurnham802. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.