Chinese dissidents

Originally from Yunnan, he and his girlfriend Li Tingyu created a blog, "Not News", which documented 30,000 protests. After finding himself in the crosshairs of the authorities, he ended up behind bars for four years where he was ill-treated. Reporters without Borders kept public attention on his case.

Jailed on 31 December 2020, Lai will go on trial under the national security law on 18 December after repeated postponements. His son Sebastian is concerned about his health. A group of 67 human rights organisations write to Biden asking him to bar Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee from attending the upcoming APEC summit in San Francisco without Lai’s release. Jailed Lee Cheuk-yan's sister-in-law also goes on to trial for perverting the course of justice.

Chen Siming, 60, commemorates the Tiananmen massacre in Hunan every year and has already been arrested for it. Threatened with internment in a psychiatric hospital in July, he escaped clandestinely to Laos and then to Thailand, countries that are no longer safe for Chinese dissidents. He applied for protection during a stopover in Taipei with a plane ticket to Guangzhou. Taiwan does not have a refugee law, more likely to accept the request from a third country.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Chinese authorities praise progress in the field. For China, self-reliance is still far away, but ongoing progress will benefit humanity. Still, the technology is also used against dissidents and critics. Two Christians are jailed for WeChat messages; four others, including a pastor, are arrested for "illegal business".

All eight are wanted in connection with alleged violations of the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Two are former lawmakers. Aa bounty of around US$ 130,000 is hanging over their heads. As a member of Interpol, China is calling for their extradition. They are accused of demanding Hong Kong's independence and carrying out “illegal activities”.

According to official media reports, the new model focuses on the ideology and dictates of the party. The rule also embraces overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and the inhabitants of "rebellious" Taiwan. It also includes specific clauses for religious figures and worshippers and Internet service providers.

Nothing is known of the whereabouts of Zhang Sheng, a young man who carried a sign at Peking University calling for an end to one-party rule. After last year’s crackdown, political signs are back in the Chinese capital. The missing man held his protest at the same site where students gathered to demand an end to zero-COVID policies.

A court in Shanxi found the lawyer guilty of "subversion of state power” after a "secret trial" and extensive use of torture and abuse during interrogation, which included the "tiger chair" as well as food and sleep deprivation. For CHRD, such a “cruel reprisal” targets people who fight against injustice.

Qiao Xinxin was detained in a cross-border operation by Beijing security forces. According to local sources, he was picked up by three Laotian and six Chinese police officers linked to the Communist Party. The dissident and former contributor to Radio Free Asia founded the 'Internet Firewall of China' movement against net restrictions.

Accused of "subversion" for promoting a website critical of the Beijing leadership. On the World Forum for Constitutional Democracy, the dissident published articles considered "inflammatory". His sister spoke of a "shameful" sentence because it hit those fighting against "injustice".

Yang Chih-yuan, deputy chair of the Taiwan National Party, has been in solitary confinement since in August 2022. His political work was limited to the island. By arresting and indicting him, China is stepping up its crackdown. Other activists and political leaders face the prospect of possible extradition requests from third countries.