September 9, 2026 — Washington, D.C.
The Free China Movement calls for immediate international scrutiny of veteran democracy advocate Wang Xizhe’s reported journey toward Hong Kong and his declared intention to present himself to authorities as a protest against political prosecution.
Wang Xizhe served in the founding-era leadership of the Free China Movement in 1998. His action comes amid the prosecution and imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy advocates including Jimmy Lai, Joshua Wong, Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho.
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.
FCM remembers the case of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, another founding FCM leader, who disappeared during a 2002 trip to Vietnam and was subsequently imprisoned in mainland China for life after a closed trial. FCM described the charges against him as trumped up.
As of publication, FCM has not independently confirmed whether Wang Xizhe has entered Hong Kong, been detained or questioned, or remains in transit. Authorities should ensure transparency, access to counsel and, where applicable, consular contact.
Related: https://freechina.live/english/wang-xizhe-heads-toward-hong-kong-in-a-deliberate-challenge-to-political-repression/