FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — September 9, 2026 — Washington, D.C.
Veteran Chinese democracy advocate Wang Xizhe, a founding-era leader of the Free China Movement, has publicly declared his intention to travel to Hong Kong and present himself to authorities in a deliberate challenge to political prosecution.
His action follows the prosecution of Hong Kong democracy advocates and comes after Beijing’s imposition of the National Security Law in 2020. Among those prosecuted or imprisoned in Hong Kong’s continuing crackdown are Jimmy Lai, Joshua Wong, Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho.
For FCM, Wang’s journey also recalls Dr. Wang Bingzhang, another founding FCM leader. Wang Bingzhang disappeared during a 2002 trip to Vietnam. FCM publicly stated at the time that it believed Chinese agents abducted him inside Vietnam and forced him into China. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment after a closed trial on espionage and terrorism charges that FCM described as trumped up.
Lian Shengde, co-founder of the Free China Movement, said:
I call on the international community, democratic governments, human-rights organizations and the global media to watch closely how Hong Kong authorities handle Wang Xizhe’s case. His safety must be protected. The world should make clear, through sustained international scrutiny and pressure, that he must not be subjected to secret detention, disappearance, coercion or political retaliation for peacefully challenging the erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms. What happens to Wang Xizhe will be a test of how far Hong Kong’s promised autonomy and rule of law have deteriorated.
FCM said Wang Bingzhang’s case shows why international scrutiny should begin before another Chinese democracy advocate disappears into custody. Wang Xizhe is making his protest openly, and the response of the Hong Kong authorities should therefore remain visible to the world.
FCM calls on democratic governments, the United Nations, human-rights organizations and international media to monitor Wang’s whereabouts and treatment. If he is detained, authorities should immediately disclose his status and ensure access to counsel, family contact and applicable consular assistance.
As of publication, FCM has not independently confirmed whether Wang Xizhe has been admitted to Hong Kong, detained, questioned, removed, or remains in transit.
Media Contact: Free China Movement — contact@freechina.live
Background: https://freechina.live/english/wang-xizhe-heads-toward-hong-kong-in-a-deliberate-challenge-to-political-repression/