In mainland China, the traditional Chinese New Year of 2025 has begun with the ringing of bells. Under the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party, several groups have been deprived of their basic rights to reunite with their families on New Year’s Eve and share the joy of being together. Every holiday is a time for yearning for loved ones, as their family members look forward to reuniting and eagerly await the arrival of freedom.
Human rights lawyer Chang Weiping served the so-called “Xiamen gathering case” sentence in July 2024, but even after being released from prison, he is still restricted from leaving the country. This prevents him from celebrating Chinese New Year with his wife and children in the United States.
Chang Weiping’s wife, Chen Zijuan, told Radio Free Asia, “The atmosphere of being able to be together as a family, sharing a New Year’s Eve dinner together, is something that seems very distant to me. I haven’t had that experience in many years. The only slightly good thing this year is that Chang Weiping was released, so we were able to have a video call with him on New Year’s Eve, allowing the children to speak with their dad. The only happy thing is that at least he can enjoy a good dinner on New Year’s Eve. However, he is still in a state of lack of freedom, with the prospect of living a normal life far in the distance, which is quite a difficult situation.”
She expressed that without the ability for Chang Weiping to leave China, true freedom is unattainable, and her worries and feelings of unease will persist as long as the Communist regime remains unchanged, keeping the family’s reunion out of reach.
Human rights lawyer Xie Yang was arrested in the “709 crackdown” in 2015, at which time his wife, Chen Guiqiu, fled with their two daughters to Thailand and then to the United States.
Chen Guiqiu stated that after Xie Yang’s release in 2017, authorities obstructed his reunion with his family in the United States and even demanded that family members return to China. She said, “Where I am is a matter of my freedom, and the authorities should not interfere. When Xie Yang was released, he should have come to the United States to reunite with us. However, he is still restricted from leaving the country as the authorities are pressing hard, wanting us to return. Furthermore, they are pressuring my relatives in China, like my father and my siblings.”
Due to the prolonged separation, Chen Guiqiu and Xie Yang decided to divorce. Chen Guiqiu mentioned that she and her daughters are deeply concerned about Xie Yang’s situation. Aside from advocating for Xie Yang, they miss him even more during holidays, and upon arriving in the United States, they seldom celebrate to avoid emotional distress.
Chen Guiqiu said, “My younger daughter was only two and a half years old when Xie Yang was arrested during the ‘709 crackdown.’ In these past ten years, the role of a father has been absent from her life, and there is no way to make up for it. Whenever the children want to ask about their father, I tell them the truth, and they still feel proud of their dad.”
Human rights lawyer Lu Siwei has been held in detention by the Chinese authorities for over three months. His wife, Zhang Chunxiao, mentioned that after leaving China in 2022 with their daughter, this marks the fourth Chinese New Year they are unable to reunite as a family.
She noted that Lu Siwei has been prosecuted for illegal border crossing, and while there are reference points for the corresponding sentence, it is uncertain when they will be able to meet again. She doesn’t want the separation to affect their daughter’s growth, and the longing and tears can only flow within their hearts.
Zhang Chunxiao said, “Alongside the yearning, there is perhaps more anxiety, worrying about his safety. Originally, the trial was scheduled after New Year’s Day, but it was postponed, and we don’t know when the judgment will be made. We cannot use legal measures to gauge their (the CCP’s) actions, uncertain about what kind of judgment he (Lu Siwei) will receive and what kind of living situation he will face afterward. As I know his physical condition has always been poor, so in this predicament, his mental and physical health should deteriorate.”
Zhang Chunxiao expressed that before she can see Lu Siwei, her sole wish for each New Year is for her husband to regain his freedom as soon as possible.