Chongqing private entrepreneur and millionaire Li Huaiqing has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Chinese Communist Party for his words and is currently detained at Xingyi Prison in Guizhou Province. His wife, Ms. Bao Yan, revealed that the authorities have been tightening restrictions on Li Huaiqing, raising concerns about his health. She strongly urged the prison to cease related restrictive actions and called on the public to pay attention.
According to Bao Yan, it has become increasingly difficult for Li Huaiqing to make phone calls to his family from prison. In a recent conversation, they learned that the prison has intensified restrictions on Li Huaiqing, including reducing outdoor time, limiting speech, reducing consumption privileges, and providing expired food for a significant period.
“Li Huaiqing’s situation reflects the unfair treatment he is receiving in prison,” Bao Yan said, noting that the regular inmates at Xingyi Prison have more outdoor time compared to political prisoners. Li Huaiqing is only allowed outdoor time once a week, sometimes even less.
Bao Yan mentioned that the prison does not allow Li Huaiqing to communicate with others. “He doesn’t even have the freedom to speak. They prevent him from talking, fearing that he might spread political messages. The prison’s actions are excessive.”
She revealed that Li Huaiqing suffers from a stomach disease, and consuming expired food for an extended period will undoubtedly worsen his health. “For several months, most of the time, the prison provides expired items. While other inmates can spend 600 yuan a month, political prisoners are limited to 300 yuan.”
“My husband is already a victim of persecution, with over a decade left in his sentence. It’s extremely challenging for ordinary people to survive in such circumstances, let alone him enduring this. It’s truly difficult for him,” she said.
Bao Yan expressed her frustration as she had previously requested the prison to promptly improve the treatment of Li Huaiqing and other political prisoners, but the issue remains unresolved. “I’m very angry about this!”
Li Huaiqing, a former military serviceman, is known as a volunteer for “casual public welfare” and the founder of Chongqing Fuhua pawnshop, a private entrepreneur. He had long provided support to vulnerable groups including those suffering from silicosis, impoverished children, and veterans. On January 31, 2018, he was detained by Chongqing police on charges of “false litigation” and arrested for “inciting subversion of state power.”
After nearly three years in custody, in November 2020, the Communist Party sentenced Li Huaiqing to 20 years in prison for sharing content on WeChat accusing the Red Fourth Army of killing a million people in Sichuan, and spreading audio recordings containing words like “moral resistance,” alleging him of “inciting subversion of state power,” fraud, extortion, and unlawful detention, which shocked the public.
Bao Yan expressed deep concerns about Li Huaiqing’s health condition, urging the public to pay attention. “If this continues, and if anything happens to my husband’s health, the prison will be held fully responsible.”