Guangxi human rights lawyer Tan Weijin was unjustly sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for his words and was released on September 12, 2026. During his time in prison, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and his health became very fragile. Upon his release, he has had his lawyer’s license revoked and faced illegal sentencing, prompting him to file an administrative review application with the Chinese Communist Party’s Ministry of Justice.
According to Tan Yongpe, another human rights lawyer in Guangxi, who visited Tan Weijin recently, he witnessed Tan’s extremely weak physical condition, lack of appetite, weighing only a little over 80 pounds, and inability to walk. As he has not yet retired, Tan is currently barely making ends meet with his wife’s meager pension, unable to afford medical treatment, and trapped in a difficult situation. Additionally, having his lawyer’s license revoked has also placed a great deal of mental pressure on him.
Tan Yongpe mentioned that Tan Weijin was diagnosed with lung cancer during his time at Yizhou Prison in Guangxi and underwent two rounds of chemotherapy at the prison hospital, leaving his body drained. Due to poor medical conditions, Tan Weijin feared dying inside the prison, leading him to refuse further chemotherapy treatments.
“Now he’s completely worn out, lacking energy, just lying at home every day,” said Tan Yongpe.
Public records show that Tan Weijin had worked in the courts as a judge and court president before becoming a lawyer, and had previously served as the director of the Tan Tong Law Firm in Guangxi.
Following the Chinese authorities’ crackdown on human rights lawyers in the “709 Incident” in 2015, Tan Weijin was involved in supporting lawyers such as Wu Liangsu, Zhan Zhaocheng, Liu Xun, and Sui Muqing.
On March 15, 2024, Tan Weijin was detained by the Liujiao sub-bureau of the Liuzhou Public Security Bureau for allegedly “inciting ethnic hatred and discrimination,” and later arrested. Due to insufficient evidence, on May 25, 2025, he was ultimately sentenced to 2 years and 6 months for “provoking trouble.”
Tan Yongpe stated that since the “709 Incident,” the Chinese Communist Party’s repression of human rights lawyers has been extremely severe, with any lawyer whose license has been revoked not receiving acceptance when prosecuted in court.
He mentioned that Tan Weijin was initially charged with “inciting ethnic hatred and discrimination,” a groundless accusation as there was no evidence of such speech, which was later changed to “provoking trouble.”
Wu Shaoping, head of the Overseas Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Alliance, expressed to Epoch Times that Tan Weijin, who has suffered persecution, imprisonment for such a long time, and developed cancer inside, believes that the Chinese authorities should bear responsibility for this.
Wu Shaoping pointed out that the CCP’s repression and persecution extend not only to the human rights lawyers’ community but also to individuals across all levels of Chinese society who dare to resist.
“The whole society, from various levels, especially grassroots society, more people have become victims of the Communist Party’s dictatorship,” he said.
“If a person is sentenced simply for what they said, then where is the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Chinese constitution? Where are the basic human rights stipulated in some international treaties that China has signed?”
Wu Shaoping urged the international community to pay attention to China’s abysmal human rights situation and take concrete actions to support persecuted individuals. “For example, imposing economic penalties on the CCP, technological sanctions, diplomatic sanctions on those involved in persecution, and so on.”
Guangxi lawyer #TanWeijin had his lawyer’s license revoked during his period of imprisonment
After the “709 Mass Arrests,” Tan Weijin repeatedly expressed support for oppressed lawyers.
On March 15, 2024, he was detained and later sentenced to two and a half years.
On September 12, 2026, he was released upon serving his sentence.