Taiwan’s Banners Culture chief editor, Fucha (Li Yanhe), was sentenced to three years in prison by the Chinese Communist Party last year for “inciting secession of the country.” Prior to this, he had been under restrictions for two years, which could be counted towards his sentence. However, there is currently no news of his release time, with the Mainland Affairs Council stating that they are monitoring the progress.
Regarding Fucha’s release time, Wang Jiaxuan, a representative of the Support Fucha petition group, stated to the Central News Agency on February 23 that there is currently no new information available.
On the same day, Banners Culture also stated that there is no further information at the moment, and all news should be based on announcements from the Mainland Affairs Council.
The Mainland Affairs Council expressed that the government is well informed of the progress of this case and is providing necessary assistance to the family. Details are being respected based on the family’s opinions, and no further explanations will be given.
Cai Shiming, a lawyer at Gao Peng Law Firm in Shanghai and Vice President of the Shanghai Taiwan Association, previously mentioned to the Central News Agency that the counting of the sentence reduction depends on the specific coercive measures taken. If the detainment or arrest includes being held in a detention center, one day in detention equals one day of sentence reduction, but if under residential surveillance, two days equal one day of sentence reduction.
Without knowing the specific coercive measures taken against Fucha, it is currently difficult to determine his release time.
Fucha (Li Yanhe) went missing in March 2023 while visiting the Mainland.
The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office reported on March 26, 2025, that the Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court had sentenced Li Yanhe on February 17 of the same year for “inciting secession of the country,” to three years in prison, along with one year of “deprivation of political rights” and confiscation of personal assets worth 50,000 RMB.
Fucha, whose real name is Li Yanhe, was born in Liaoning Province in 1971. He previously served as the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, later married a Taiwanese woman and settled in Taiwan where he established the Banners Culture Publishing House in 2009. He held the position of chief editor and obtained residency in the Republic of China in 2013. Fucha went to the Mainland in March 2023 to visit family and handle procedures related to deregistering his household in Mainland China, but went missing.
The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office confirmed on April 26, 2023, that Fucha was suspected of engaging in activities that “endanger national security” and was under investigation.