(Changsha, Hunan – September 19, 2025) Zhang Yadi (22 years old, online name Tara / @TaraFreesoul) is a young scholar from Changsha, Hunan, who has long lived and studied in France. Recently, she was awarded a master’s degree scholarship in anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and was supposed to begin her studies in the UK in September 2025.
Disappearance in Shangri-La
She returned to Changsha on July 5 to visit family. According to relatives and multiple sources, she lost contact with the outside world on July 30 while in Shangri-La, Yunnan. Before losing contact, she maintained regular communication with family and friends, but since then, her WeChat and other communication channels have suddenly been cut off. Based on this information, it is suspected that she was taken back to Changsha by state security authorities on suspicion of “endangering national security.” As of publication, she has been missing for 50 days; the outside world has not been able to obtain credible confirmation of the specific circumstances of her detention or whereabouts.
Conflicting Information and Legal Concerns
Several public statements of the mother about her daughter’s WeChat account and communication status have been inconsistent, deepening doubts about whether Zhang Yadi still enjoys personal freedom, whether she is protected by legal procedures, and where she is currently.
Incident Involving Lawyer Jiang Tianyong
On the afternoon of September 16, 2025, lawyer Jiang Tianyong (a well-known human rights lawyer in the “709” crackdown) went to Changsha at the request of a friend to provide legal assistance to Zhang Yadi’s mother, Ms. Zhou. During a meeting at the “City of Broadcasting Time Coffee Shop” in Changsha, lawyer Jiang was forcibly taken away by three unidentified individuals. Some reports suggested he may have been brought to the Yuehu Police Station of the Kaifu Branch of the Changsha Public Security Bureau. Later reports indicated Jiang Tianyong was released, but his phone was confiscated.
Zhang Yadi’s Advocacy and Research Focus
Zhang Yadi is fluent in Chinese, Tibetan, English, and French. Reportedly, she has long been engaged in academic research and social issues, and some stated that she has been involved with Chinese youths supporting Tibetans, committed to promoting Tibetan culture, and focusing especially on cultures of minorities, dialogue between minorities, social justice, eliminating conflicts, and pushing for reconciliation and reforms between minorities. If the information is accurate, these activities may have been the reason she was taken away, as China views overseas Tibetan support groups as politically taboo.
The case has drawn widespread domestic and international concern; it involves the following key issues:
● Personal Freedom and Rule of Law – Under the circumstances of the absence of formal charges or legal procedures, disappearance or forced removal poses serious challenges to the principles of freedom and judicial justice guaranteed under the Constitution and Criminal Procedure Law of the Chinese legal system.
● Family and Communication Rights – Conflicting explanations from family members about the cessation of communication and the lack of information regarding Zhang Yadi’s current situation raise the possibility of surveillance, house arrest, or more serious restrictions on communication and visitation rights.
● Right to Legal Assistance – Lawyer Jiang Tianyong’s forced removal while providing legal assistance raises concerns about the right and safety of lawyers to represent clients safely within China’s legal system.
We call on the Chinese authorities to:
● Immediately clarify Zhang Yadi’s whereabouts and condition, and guarantee her fundamental personal freedom, due process, and communication rights;
● If detained, ensure her legal rights, including family notification, lawyer access, disclosure of charges, and trial according to law;
● Stop intimidating or interfering with her family and legal representatives, and allow them to provide or seek legal assistance freely;
● Ensure Jiang Tianyong’s personal safety and respect his role as a legal representative.
As of now, there is no independent or reliable official document or public statement confirming that Zhang Yadi has been detained by state security authorities, nor any public evidence that she faces criminal charges. Similarly, Jiang Tianyong’s removal has not been confirmed by official authorities such as the court or the public security bureau.
Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid