In 2023, when Zhu Yufu, one of the founders of the China Democracy Party and a prominent figure in the pro-democracy movement, learned of his cancer diagnosis, he saw leaving the earthly world as a form of liberation from the endless hardships of life.
During the China-hosted Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhu Yufu, considered a dissident by the Chinese authorities, was forced to leave the city, and he ended up traveling to Xi’an with officials and even climbed Mount Hua. Upon his return to Hangzhou after the Asian Games on October 8th, he experienced difficulty swallowing food, eventually realizing there was a problem with his stomach.
Having served three prison terms totaling 16 years in mainland China, Zhu Yufu faced suppression for his activism multiple times. He was labeled as a threat by the Chinese Communist Party for trying to establish the China Democracy Party back in 1998 and faced imprisonment until 2006. Subsequent arrests in 2008 and 2011, on charges like “obstructing official business” and “inciting subversion of state power,” led to further years behind bars.
Upon his release from prison, Zhu Yufu lived under constant surveillance, with restricted access to pension and healthcare benefits. Any slight movement or sensitive event like the Asian Games would force him to flee his home alongside Communist officials.
Reflecting on life in China, Zhu Yufu describes it as a slave-like existence, where Party members and citizens alike are expected to submit without question, or else face punishment or even elimination if perceived as an enemy.
Upon being diagnosed with stomach cancer and told he needed a complete removal of his stomach, Zhu Yufu surprisingly felt relieved, viewing the illness as an escape from the hardships of life. He confronted the harsh reality of living under the Communist regime, stating that even the Japanese occupation in China was less destructive compared to the atrocities committed by the Communist Party.
While undergoing an 11-hour stomach removal surgery followed by two rounds of chemotherapy, Zhu Yufu’s doctors estimated he had three months left to live. With the approval of high-ranking Chinese officials, he traveled to Japan before finally arriving in the United States.
Setting foot on American soil, Zhu Yufu was overwhelmed with indescribable emotions. He praised the U.S. for its advanced political system, productivity, inclusive culture, and saw it as a stark contrast to the impending downfall of the Communist Party. Despite his grave illness, Zhu Yufu expressed confidence in witnessing the demise of the CCP.
For Zhu Yufu, being in the U.S. symbolized hope and a future for the Chinese people. He believed that the time for change had come and captured his sentiments in a poem titled “It’s Time”:
It’s time
It’s time, Chinese people! It’s time
The square belongs to everyone
Feet are our own
It’s time to step into the square and make a choice with our feet
It’s time, Chinese people! It’s time
The song belongs to everyone
The voice is our own
It’s time to sing the songs from our hearts with our voices
It’s time, Chinese people! It’s time
China belongs to everyone
The choice is our own
It’s time to choose the future of China for ourselves.
This profound journey of hardship and hope underscores Zhu Yufu’s unwavering commitment to democracy, freedom, and justice for the people of China.