On the morning of January 8th, around 9 a.m., Chinese human rights defender Chen Yunfei was assaulted and verbally abused by a man in the residential area of Zhujiang Road in Xipu Town, Pidu District, Chengdu, where he resides. Chen suffered a fractured eyebrow bone and required four stitches. As of the time of reporting, the local police station on Zhujiang Road has not provided any investigation results.
According to an informant using the pseudonym Wang Hao, on January 9th, Chen Yunfei was taking his 90-year-old mother for a walk as usual when an unidentified man suddenly approached, aggressively shouting and questioning him. The man proceeded to physically attack Chen while threatening him not to post on certain platforms. Chen did not fight back and sustained multiple injuries to his face, including a four-centimeter gash above his right eye that needed stitching. His face and the wounded area were swollen and bruised.
Wang Hao mentioned that there are usually police cars and security personnel monitoring Chen Yunfei’s residence, but no one intervened during the attack. Chen immediately called the police, who only took his statement without providing any response or addressing the situation.
It is believed that Chen Yunfei has faced retaliation from authorities due to his persistent activism and advocacy. Wang Hao stated that investigations are underway to identify those responsible for orchestrating the attack.
Attempts to contact the neighborhood committee on Zhujiang Road were unsuccessful, with the police at the station claiming to be unaware of the incident.
Chen Yunfei is a well-known Chinese human rights activist and dissident who participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement. After being suppressed, he returned to his hometown in Sichuan to make a living while continuing to uphold democratic ideals and assist marginalized groups. Chen has served two prison sentences totaling eight years and has endured severe torture during his incarceration. He was released on March 24th, 2025.
Following his release, Chen Yunfei has been caring for his elderly mother and has faced repeated forced relocations and financial losses orchestrated by authorities, leading to a tumultuous and precarious existence. He was in the process of moving from his current residential area when the recent attack occurred.
Li Yingzhi, a Chinese-American who witnessed the Tiananmen Square Massacre and has experienced forced relocation in mainland China, condemned the Chinese Communist Party for its inhumane persecution of dissenters through forced displacement.
Li stated, “Yunfei rented a house and was planning to move recently. He must have faced pressure from the authorities. Being repeatedly forced to relocate is extremely painful. The local police station and neighborhood committee are all engaging in malicious activities. It is extremely cruel and lacks basic human decency.”
Li Yingzhi emphasized that Chen Yunfei is one of the few dissenters in mainland China who fearlessly speaks out and perseveres in the face of adversity, deserving admiration as a champion of justice. Despite serving an extensive prison term and enduring tremendous hardship, Chen remains steadfast in his mission. Li accused the police and security forces of harboring deep animosity toward Chen, displaying egregious conduct.
Li Yingzhi pledged continuous support from both domestic and international advocates for justice in monitoring Chen Yunfei’s situation and providing him with enhanced care and attention.