TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A documentary film that reports alleged cases of forced organ harvesting in China has been released in theaters across Taiwan, but quickly faced bomb threats aimed at halting its screenings.
Shortly after the nationwide release of “State Organs” (國有器官) in October, theaters across Taiwan began receiving threatening letters, including bomb threats, per FTV News. The police have increased patrols and preliminary investigations suggest that these threats are likely the work of Chinese cyber forces.
The documentary features testimonies, audio recordings of victims before they disappeared, and accounts from doctors allegedly involved in surgeries, recalling purported forced organ harvesting procedures.
FTV reporter Wang Yu-chun (王毓珺) said that a media outlet had reported on the upcoming release of the film and “within just 20 minutes, they received bomb threats.” Wang said the suspects also called theaters across Taiwan, as well as government offices, demanding the screenings be stopped or bombs would be detonated in movie theaters.
Threatening emails contained explicit warnings, stating that bombs had been made, information from theaters had been stolen, and if screenings continued, shootings would occur inside theaters. Police have stepped up patrols and searches and identified the email senders' IP addresses.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) has preliminarily determined that these actions are part of a typical harassment tactic used by Chinese cyber warriors.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) was cited by FTV News as saying, “Since this film ‘State Organs’ hits a sore spot for China, it would be strange if China did nothing. In Taiwan, it is easier to see these reactions manifest.”
Shen said they initially tend to use online threats like sending emails and other forms of harassment, "which can ultimately escalate into physical (threats)."
Kuan Nung-yun (管弄雲), head of Lion Film and Television Culture Co. (雄獅影視文化有限公司), the film's distributor, told the news agency, “Due to the interference faced by the theaters, they are unable to continue the screenings.”
He added, “We hope that national security and law enforcement agencies can provide ordinary people with an environment that ensures freedom of life and speech.”
As theaters that show the documentary have been affected by the threats, certain operators have decided to cancel screenings out of concern for audience safety.