(China – July 15, 2025) Ten years ago, on July 9, 2015, Chinese authorities launched the unprecedented “709 Crackdown,” a sweeping campaign targeting activists, lawyers, human rights defenders, and their families across the country. More than 300 individuals were detained, interrogated, or imprisoned, marking one of the most severe suppressions of human rights defenders in China’s history. The ruthless repression of dissent and civil society initiated then continues to this day.
On the 10th anniversary of the crackdown, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) released the first-hand testimony of Christian lawyer Fang Xiangui, whose story reveals the lasting impact of the “709” events and the worsening human rights and legal environment in China. Lawyer Fang Xiangui was arrested in the initial wave and later faced threats of imprisonment again due to his continued work on rights-related cases. Ultimately, he was forced to flee China.
Midnight Raid: Arrested While Working on a Case in Wenzhou
Lawyer Fang Xiangui recalls that around 1:00 a.m. on July 10, 2015, he and two other lawyers were working on a case in Cangnan County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. They had planned to speak the next day at a local church that had been threatened with cross demolition.
“That day, we kept getting messages that other lawyers were being arrested. We even joked, ‘Maybe we will be next.’ I had just fallen asleep that night around 1 a.m. when we heard a loud noise as the door was being violently opened. Soon, more than a dozen men in plainclothes, of unclear identity, burst in, blindfolded the three of us lawyers, twisted our arms behind our backs, and dragged us downstairs while we were still pulling up our pants,” lawyer Fang described.
Once outside, they were forced into separate unmarked vehicles and taken to the Xincheng Police Station in Cangnan County. “It happened to be typhoon season in Wenzhou. At the station, the interrogation room’s air conditioning made it freezing cold in the early hours. The place was so eerie that we did not even dare use the restroom. It was not until 4 a.m. that they began questioning me; several shifts of people came in, but no formal written records were made. Then, just before noon the next day, I was questioned again. Finally, they warned me, saying they had seen too many so-called ‘diehard lawyers’ and that Wenzhou didn’t welcome us.”
Behind Politeness: A Premeditated Criminal Detention
On the night of August 25, 2015, lawyer Fang was arrested again, this time while preparing for a scheduled meeting the next day with the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief under the administration of former U.S. President Obama. “That night, I had a bad feeling. I joked with another assistant: ‘What if we get held here?’ Sure enough, at around 11:30 p.m., just after returning to our rooms, we were interrupted by plainclothed agents before even getting a chance to rest. They pushed open the door and quite politely told us we needed to come answer some questions.”
“But that ‘politeness’ masked a long-planned arrest operation for us,” lawyer Fang explained. “Within 24 hours, I was interrogated multiple times, asked whether I knew about a procession held during a memorial for Pastor Gao Jianguo, the former head of the Wenzhou Christian Council, who organized or planned it. And also asked me about the so-called “Cross Defense Manual”, complaints filed against the then-Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary Xia Baolong, and communication among various churches across Wenzhou. “To all these questions, I mostly responded with: ‘I am not sure,’ ‘I do not remember,’ or ‘I cannot recall.’” Fang said. He adhered to the principle that “the more you say, the more you become an accomplice,” admitting only to what he had personally done. In the end, national security officers decided to place him under criminal detention, citing his “poor attitude (failure to explain properly)”.
Torment in Detention: Solitary Confinement and the “Grape Trellis”
While held at the Wenzhou Detention Center, Lawyer Fang endured relentless interrogation. On September 7, he was transferred to a solitary confinement cell of less than six square meters, where his physical and mental health deteriorated severely. “The toilet was right next to the sleeping board. Meals were delivered on a schedule. A loudspeaker blasted ‘Officer Wang’s speeches’ 24/7. Harsh fluorescent lights stayed on all day and night. At certain hours, I was required to sit upright without moving. Those six days caused immense harm to my body and mind.” After returning to the main cell, he was forbidden to speak with anyone. “I even developed Stockholm syndrome, even started missing the interrogations, when at least someone would talk to me.”
On September 24, lawyer Fang was moved to “residential surveillance at a designated location” (RSDL). Until his release on bail, he never met with a lawyer. In the hotel room where he was held, he was guarded around the clock by armed police. The windows were painted black, with no light entering. The only sense of time came from meal deliveries and occasional sounds from an advertisement vehicle outside. “I told myself to just remember the date and day of the week. I learned to exercise using a plastic water bottle. Every Friday night, I required myself to pray through the night.”
On October 17, he was transferred to residential surveillance at a designated location informally known as the “Grape Trellis,” which he later realized was part of the same law enforcement facility where he had previously been interrogated. “This place had windows that could open up more. The cook outside was a Christian auntie who often hummed hymns softly, and we would join her. In nearby rooms, brothers would often lead others in singing hymns and occasionally pray aloud. Hearing their voices confirmed that we were all being held for the same case.”
Lawyer Fang said of his time in the “Grape Trellis”:
“Although my physical freedom was taken, my spirit was alive. I especially miss the days when we sang Xiao Min’s hymn ‘Fellow Travelers’ together. At that time, I felt that even if they pulled me out and executed me, I could face death joyfully. On the path to meeting the Lord, I was not alone. The Lord and my brothers were with me.”
Refusing Televised Confession: Holding onto the Bottom Line
While detained at the “Grape Trellis,” a national security officer asked lawyer Fang to record a video accusing other lawyers and scholars.
He recalled that the officer even asked him to use words like “shameless” and “vulgar.” Alarmed, Fang asked the national security officer whether the video would be broadcast on television. The officer deflected: “Have you ever seen cases like this aired on TV?”
In early December, a national security officer gave lawyer Fang a Bible, which he read with great eagerness. “I realized I could read over 80 chapters a day. I regretted wasting so much time outside.” It was also around this time that another officer and the national security officer handling his case asked him to record a video. One of them pointed upward, saying that if their superiors approved it, he could be released.
The officers prompted him to accuse the lead attorney on the case and even instructed him to use slurs like “shameless” and “vulgar.” They also told him to denounce Professor Yang Fenggang, Director of the Center on Religion and the Global East at Purdue University, who had supported their movement to defend the removal of crosses. They also asked whether he knew ChinaAid or Pastor Bob Fu.“I had a WeChat friend who was a pastor named Bob, and might have had the last name Fu. We might have exchanged a few messages, but I truly didn’t know more. I told them honestly.”
“Back then (before my arrest), it was not common to televise cases under Chapter 1 of the Criminal Law (endangering state security). I said I had not seen any. I even asked ‘Should I take a shower or shave before recording?’ The officer said, ‘Up to you.’ When I heard that, I figured they would not air it on TV; otherwise, they would care more about how I looked.”
During the recording, Fang refused to use slanderous language, as instructed by the national security officers. Instead, he used more neutral phrasing, such as “should not have” or “not right.” “The national security officer kept reminding me, recording again and again. However, I stuck to my principles. In the end, they said they would take the footage to report to their superiors. If it passed, they would not come back.”
Returning to the Legal Profession: The New Era of “Acting Without Speaking”
On December 10, 2015, International Human Rights Day, Lawyer Fang was released on bail. He still vividly remembers the date, which surprised the national security officers. After reuniting with his family in Beijing, the Wenzhou incident had left him deeply shaken. In 2016, he returned to work in chemical engineering design. However, in April 2018, he once again decided to return to the legal profession and began practicing independently in 2020. Since then, he has handled numerous cases, including religious cases and legal aid for dissidents.
Lawyer Fang pointed out that the 709 crackdown fundamentally changed China’s human rights legal community. “Before 709, lawyers, scholars, media, and civic groups could organize seminars, issue joint statements, and collectively advocate for unjust cases. Now it’s different, these groups deliberately avoid jointly discussing cases.”
He said that human rights lawyers have been forced to compromise with “Xi Jinping’s New Era,” adopting an “acting without speaking” approach to human rights cases.
“There is still some room to defend in court. Judicial bureaus typically issue routine reminders to ‘defend in accordance with the law.’ However, human rights cases require voices; they need the attention of international society. It is not only the clients’ wish; it is also about documenting their stance and persecution in pursuit of justice to inspire others who come after them. It is a rare opportunity to engage with international forces concerned about China’s human rights and rule of law.”
However, under current conditions, “It is unrealistic for lawyers themselves to speak out directly about human rights cases to let them be known. So we rely on families. If there is no family, we wait a while and let other friends share the case.” He emphasized that in “Xi’s era, with its intense focus on struggle and intolerance for the existence of different voices,” “We adhere to a principle of limited, safe engagement with the international community.”
Exile and Persistence: Speaking Out for the Sake of Passing on the Ideals
Lawyer Fang is deeply aware that China’s growing global influence is making it harder for the international community to focus on human rights and the rule of law in China, especially after the pandemic, when attention of international society has noticeably waned. Still, he continues to participate in international human rights forums, calling for global attention to China’s human rights and religious freedom, and for sanctions against Chinese officials who commit abuses. “In most cases, I don’t expect real results. I do not count on seeing immediate effects. The goal is communication and exchange.” He spoke frankly.
This persistence has come at great personal risk. In April 2024, lawyer Fang’s trip to attend an EU human rights conference in Brussels was investigated by China’s Ministry of State Security. He and his family were placed in “tremendous danger.” As early as 2016, national security officers had warned him that if he again “endangered national interests,” he wouldn’t be “lucky” enough to be granted bail a second time.
As a father of three and unwilling to put his family at risk again, lawyer Fang made an emergency departure from Bangkok on May 10, 2024. He has not returned to China since and is now seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. Even during the asylum process, an interview with Radio Free Asia, in which he merely explained the reasons for his flight and commented on the rollback of the rule of law in Xi’s era, led the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice to accuse him of being “anti-Party and anti-society.” Public security authorities also opened an investigation into his interview. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice even threatened to delay the annual licensing review for all members of his law firm, forcing lawyer Fang to cancel his law license to avoid implicating colleagues.
Lawyer Fang Xiangui stated that “In Xi’s New Era, the space for China’s human rights defenders and human rights lawyers is becoming increasingly narrow,” but what matters most is “passing on the ideals, not clinging to gains or losses in a single battle.” He believes that working on cases and engaging with fellow lawyers and families are great opportunities for human rights lawyers to help carry forward the ideals of justice and the rule of law.
Finally, he offered a message of hope: “In this long winter, keep warm, take care of yourself, and if you can, bring warmth to those around you as we wait for the arrival of spring.”
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)
