(Guangdong province) Recently, there has been new information confirming the wellbeing of pro-democracy activist Dr. Wang Bingzhang. He is alive in prison after 21 years of imprisonment.
Reunion
It has been four years since his family’s last visit, their latest reunion made Wang Bingzhang greatly emotional. Dr. Wang Bingwu, Wang Bingzhang’s brother, posted on Twitter (now X) on September 19th. “He clearly looks much older and has lost a lot of weight. He was very emotional.”
“My older brother is a doctor,” Wang Bingwu wrote, “he knows himself well, and has a history of stroke.”
Letter in March
In March this year, Wang Bingwu received a letter from Wang Bingzhang. His brother lost eight teeth in the past few month, and his other teeth were also in bad condition. The prison tried to treat Wang Bingzhang, but it could not resolve the issue. Dental implants are now needed, but there is no such service in Shaoguan City, where Wang is imprisoned. The family has applied for a dentist from out of town to perform the procedure, which will likely result in a hefty cost.
Background
Dr. Wang Bingzhang, now 76 years old, is an overseas democracy activist. Vietnamese authorities detained and transferred him to China in July 2002. In 2003, a court in Guangdong province unjustly convicted him of espionage and terrorism on baseless charges. The judge sentenced Wang to life imprisonment, being in solitary confinement for over 21 years. His health has continued to deteriorate and is facing various health issues.
Family Advocacy
Dr. Wang Bingzhang’s family has been tirelessly working to rescue their loved one who has been unjustly detained. “We have not given up, and we never will! Since Wang Bingzhang’s sentencing in 2003, we have continuously called on the international community to rescue him. The United Nations, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Taiwan (the Republic of China), and others have passed resolutions in their respective legislatures, demanding his release, but the Chinese Communist Party has consistently ignored them. Thailand and Taiwan have provided official documents confirming that Wang Bingzhang was not involved in terrorist or espionage activities. We continue to urge leaders of various countries to pay attention to his situation.” The Wang family stated.
Survivor of the Cultural Revolution
Dr. Wang Bingzhang is a Christian and a native of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, and a permanent resident of the United States. According to public records, in 1965, after graduating from high school, Wang Bingzhang was recommended for college acceptance to Beijing Medical College. However, when the tumultuous “Cultural Revolution” began, Wang Bingzhang, as an “outstanding student of the bourgeoisie,” was brought in by the “college’s Red Guards.” He attended the “beating down” sessions of the school principal and the teachers; some people were beaten to death on the spot. Witnessing this deeply affected Wang Bingzhang, leading him to withdraw from the “Red Guards” organization.
Call for prayer and action
ChinaAid has been closely monitoring the case of Dr. Wang Bingzhang. We call on the Chinese government to release him on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, so that he can reunite with his family. We pray for good health! May the Almighty Lord watch over him. Even though he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, he will fear no evil, for you are with him; your rod and your staff, they comfort him.
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid
