Dong Guangping, a prominent dissident in mainland China, recently embarked on a small rubber boat from Shandong and drifted at sea for over thirty hours before being taken into custody by South Korean coast guards in South Korean waters. Dong’s actions have garnered significant international attention.
On the night of May 25, the 67-year-old Dong Guangping crossed the Yellow Sea from a region in Shandong, China, on a small rubber boat. After about 30 hours, he arrived in the waters off the western coast of South Korea and was spotted by a South Korean fishing boat, who then alerted authorities. Soon after, South Korean coast guards arrived and apprehended him.
According to a statement from the Taean Coast Guard in South Korea, the man, traveling in a boat measuring 3.3 meters (11 feet) with a 10-horsepower engine, was found by a fishing boat approximately 38 nautical miles off the west coast. The fishing boat crew promptly notified the authorities.
The statement further mentioned that he was arrested for suspected violation of immigration laws and taken in for questioning. The Taean Coast Guard emphasized that the location of his discovery was within South Korean territorial waters.
The Guardian quoted a spokesperson from the South Korean coast guard stating, “An arrest warrant for illegal entry has been issued.”
Upon learning of Dong’s situation, veteran journalist and writer Ms. Sheng Xue initiated efforts to rescue him with the hope of reuniting him with his family in Canada. She disclosed, “Last night, I spoke with him. My friend in Korea contacted the Coast Guard, found him, and connected with me via Messenger.”
“Dong Guangping mentioned that he was already in a state of unconsciousness in South Korean waters, having been awake for over fifty hours and drifting at sea for more than thirty hours.”
Sheng Xue expressed admiration for Dong’s resilience and bravery, noting that he had previously discussed escaping by boat with her and had now acted upon it.
She revealed that Dong Guangping meticulously planned his departure from Weihai, Shandong. His rubber boat was discovered by a nearby fishing boat captain in the waters approximately 18 kilometers northwest of Taean County in Chungcheongnam Province, South Korea, on the evening of the 25th. The coast guard was promptly dispatched and arrested Dong Guangping at the scene about an hour later.
Based on screenshots of the record of communication between Sheng Xue and Dong Guangping, the two conversed for approximately thirteen minutes.
Sheng Xue hoped that Canada would assist in ensuring Dong Guangping’s safety. On May 27 (Mainland China time), she said, “Today, diplomats requested more information from me, indicating that official rescue actions by Canada have been initiated.”
“Chinese Human Rights” has issued an urgent appeal to raise awareness for Dong Guangping, urging South Korea not to repatriate him to China. It is recommended that he be allowed to apply for political asylum and ultimately reunite with his family in Canada, as his relatives had previously been granted asylum in Canada.
A report on the official website of the non-governmental organization “Front Line Defenders,” based in Berlin, indicates that Dong Guangping has attempted to escape from China at least twice, with detailed accounts of these incidents.
Dong Guangping, a human rights defender originally from Zhengzhou, Henan province, was imprisoned from 2001 to 2004 and from 2016 to 2019 as retribution for his support of democratic and human rights activities.
In September 2015, Dong Guangping fled to Thailand with his family, but was arrested by Thai authorities a month later. Despite being officially recognized as a refugee by the United Nations during his detention by immigration authorities and accepted for resettlement in Canada, he was repatriated to China from Thailand, while his family was able to resettle in Canada the same year.
Due to continued surveillance and harassment by local Chinese authorities following his release, Dong Guangping fled to Vietnam in January 2020, awaiting reunion with his family in Canada. However, he went missing in Vietnam on August 24, 2022, and was later confirmed to have been taken back to China.
In 2019, before fleeing to Vietnam, he had attempted to swim to Kinmen, Taiwan, but failed due to exhaustion.
Dong Guangping’s recent escape has been described by media outlets such as The Guardian as a “near-suicidal” flight.
His plight has gained widespread attention on social media, with many expressing solidarity and admiration for his courage.