By 2019, Xu and her family faced harassment and threats due to her journalism.[16][15]
In April 2021, Chinese state media launched a smear campaign against her. China Daily labeled Xu as a "traitor," "anti-China witch," and "a pawn in the Western anti-China plot".[42]
By June 2024, Xu had relocated to Taipei and reported ongoing surveillance and intimidation by Chinese security forces.[43] She also changed her name from Xu Xiuzhong to Xu Weiqi and took up training and competing in mixed martial arts in Taiwan.[1][20][19]
In July 2024, the Australian Federal Police reported to the Senate that they had thwarted a foreign intelligence plot targeting Xu and activist Drew Pavlou, who were considered "potential targets of violence."[44]
