(Guangdong) Prominent Chinese human rights activist Guo Feixiong was sentenced to eight years for allegedly “inciting subversion of state power.” Guo’s case was heard in open court on the morning of May 11. Authorities arrested him in January 2022, immediately after the death of his critically ill wife.
Pleaded not guilty
On May 11, information from Guo Feixiong’s older brother, Yang Maoquan, reported that Guo and his defense attorney Wang Lei pleaded not guilty. The Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court cited several exhibits of his alleged subversion.
So-called evidence
First, Guo Feixiong, also known as Yang Maodong, published articles online, continuously criticizing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He founded the World Forum for Constitutional Democracy in 2020 and spoke with Radio Free Asia in January 2021. When Guo Feixiong was barred from leaving the country, he attacked and defamed China’s political system and allegedly incited others to subvert state power.
Guilty
The court found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to eight years. They also decided to deprive Guo of political rights for three years. The renowned human rights activist disagreed with the verdict and filed an appeal.
Leaked defense statement
During the hearing, the court prohibited Guo Feixiong from reading his defense statement. However, his defense statement was leaked online. In it, he stated that the court’s conviction of his political crimes is entirely unfounded.
Freedom of speech
His political outlook and political ideals have never changed, which is the complete realization of true liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in China. Guo Feixiong also emphasized that the release and dissemination of his articles and website are objective facts. These intellectual and academic activities are legitimate fulfillment of “freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and academic liberty.”
Hunger Strike
For the last 500 days, Guo Feixiong has been on a hunger strike in prison. In his defense statement, he reflected on his protest. “The core of my motivation for the hunger strike is to defend my integrity, to demonstrate my unyielding tenacity, to carry my righteousness, and through ‘austerity’ exercises, […] actively try to experience the limits of our body and mind, thus constantly strengthening the inner mental strength.”
Facing death
“I have never appreciated the ugly side of Chinese culture: to compromise to get things done and leave it for another day. I want to live in the present to my heart’s content with self-respect and dignity. I have always stood while imprisoned, and I will also be standing while faced with death.”
A plea for her brother
Before the trial, Guo’s elder sister Yang Maoping posted about her younger brother:
“It is not wrong for him to go to the United States to take care of his cancer-stricken wife and two children, so why does he constitute the crime of inciting subversion of state power? He should not be convicted! He did not want to subvert anyone at all; who could he subvert with his own power? This is a fabricated crime and should be condemned!”
Background
Guo Feixiong participated in the Shanghai Student Democracy Movement in 1986 when he was a college student. He graduated from the Philosophy Department of East China Normal University in 1988. China sent him to teach at Wuhan Workers Medical College, which later merged to form Jianghan University. Outraged by the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, he decided to give up his state-funded teaching position.
A new career
In 1991, he moved to southern Guangdong Province, where he began his time as a writer under the pen name “Guo Feixiong” and worked as a publisher from 1993 to 2001. His business was quite successful, earning him enough money to buy an apartment in the most expensive part of Guangzhou.
Integral rights activist
Since 2001, he was an active participant in the New Citizens’ Movement and the Southern Street Movement. The CCP continuously attacked, surveilled, and harassed Guo Feixiong after he demanded government officials disclose their property. After 2006, he was imprisoned four times totaling 11 years. Authorities released him in August 2019.
Tortured
During interrogations, police tortured him with sleep deprivation and electrocuted his arms, face, and genitals. To end the humiliation and suffering, Guo tried to take his own life by throwing himself headlong toward the window and then the wall.
His family escapes
Guo Feixiong was first imprisoned in 2006, and his children were forced out of school. His wife, Ms. Zhang Qing, was forced to flee from Thailand with their children in 2009 and later arrived in the United States. Zhang Qing and her two children remained in exile in the United States. In 2021, Zhang Qing was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer.
Leaving to see his wife
In January 2021, Guo Feixiong attempted to join his sick wife and family in the United States. Unfortunately, the authorities prevented him from boarding the plane. On November 29, 2011, he wrote a letter to the then-Premier of China, Li Keqiang. Guo requested to leave the country to visit his critically ill wife.
Detained at the airport
A week later, he was detained at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport after attempting to leave for a second time. He was formally arrested after 37 days in custody (January 12, 2022). About 40 law, human rights, and China studies scholars launched a joint petition, urging the Chinese government to respect Chinese law and human dignity, release Guo immediately, and allow him to meet with his wife. However, their efforts were in vain.
No farewell
Guo Feixiong’s wife, Zhang Qing, passed away in the United States from illness without bidding farewell to him for the last time. She and Guo Feixiong were forced to be separated for 15 years. In the end, Guo Feixiong was unable to go to the United States to take care of his wife’s funeral.
Eulogy made of tears with blood
Guo Feixiong concluded his defense statement with this “eulogy made of tears with blood:” Below is an excerpt:
To my wife for eternity,
your tragic cries continued for a year,
and has long torn my heart apart.
In the precarious situation where you were step by step being pushed to a precipice,
no matter how hard I tried, I still could not break free from the chains,
and could not go forward to rescue you.
My heart has since collapsed,
falling into extreme mourning, guilt, and remorse.
My life has since been cut in half.
Travel restrictions
The Chinese Communist Party has expanded the scope of restrictions on Chinese citizens leaving the country in recent years. The inhumane humiliation suffered by Mr. Yang’s family demonstrates the endless coercion that the CCP exerts on the families of human rights defenders. In recent years, such cases have become increasingly widespread
Diplomats prohibited from attending the trial
Diplomats from several countries said they were prevented from attending Guo Feixiong’s May 11 trial. “Deeply shocked by today’s sentencing to 8 years of human rights defender Yang Maodong (Guo Feixiong) for ‘inciting subversion.’ Our consulate was stopped from attending the public trial. Together with several other states, we call for his release on humanitarian grounds,” German Ambassador to China Patricia Flor tweeted.
US Embassy
“Today, U.S. diplomats were blocked from attending the court proceedings of Guo Feixiong, a lawyer who is facing trial in Guangzhou for his peaceful advocacy,” the U.S. Embassy in China said via its Twitter account on Thursday. “We continue to call for Mr. Guo’s speedy release so he may be reunited with his family.”
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid