王振, a Chinese who entered the United States via a circuitous route, arrived in the country after traveling through more than ten countries over a period of two months, starting from Shenzhen, China to his envisioned land of America in 2023.
Recently interviewed by Dajiyuan, Wang shared his harrowing journey of survival.
Originally from Hunan, Wang’s childhood was marked by the traumatic experience of his family’s house being forcibly demolished by the government, which left a deep impact on his young psyche and exposed the oppressive nature of the Communist Party.
In 2012, Wang moved to Beijing and worked at the “Wan Sheng Bookstore” founded by Liu Suli, a student who participated in the Tiananmen Square protests. Liu’s ideologies deeply influenced Wang, opening his eyes to how the Communist Party suppresses ordinary citizens through brainwashing and extreme authoritarian rule.
With this understanding, Wang, at the end of 2013, began to contemplate leaving for the United States. Starting from 2015, he initiated the process of applying for a U.S. visa. However, his first visa application was unsuccessful due to holding an ordinary passport, being unemployed, and single.
Subsequently, Wang started traveling abroad in the hopes of improving his chances of obtaining a U.S. visa by increasing his international travel records. He journeyed through more than twenty countries until his return to China in 2019. Despite four attempts to obtain a U.S. visa, he faced repeated failures. The outbreak of COVID-19 further hindered his ability to travel overseas.
The extraordinary events during the pandemic strengthened Wang’s determination to leave China and head to the United States. Working in Shenzhen at the time, he witnessed unsettling quarantine policies, arbitrary isolation measures without scientific basis, round-the-clock nucleic acid testing regardless of weather conditions, and mindless “zero cases” initiatives.
Witnessing tragedies of suicides and people jumping off buildings due to pandemic-induced despair – loss of jobs, mounting debts, and restricted movements – because of close contact with cases resulting in mandatory isolation in hospitals, the real-life incidents around him drove Wang’s decision to depart from China.
He believed that the greatest threat comes from the government’s unchecked power; when individual rights are not protected, unimaginable circumstances can arise.
Under such policies, even kitchen knives at home had to be registered under real-name systems. Facing fully armed military forces, innocent civilians had no means to resist and were powerless. Upon hearing Xi Jinping’s plan for lifelong presidency, Wang resolved to leave China by any means necessary.
After thorough preparations, Wang embarked on his journey from Shenzhen to Hong Kong. Following a brief stay in Hong Kong for two days, he flew to Kuala Lumpur.
A mishap occurred where a local snatched the mobile phone of a girl traveling along with Wang. In a bid to retrieve the phone, he spent seven days in the city, faced numerous challenges, yet could not recover the device. Later, the girl returned to her home country. Upon reaching the U.S., Wang contacted the girl via phone, and she regretted not persisting to stay.
Wang, along with two other families totaling nine individuals, guided by a local smuggler, traveled by car to Panama. The journey was arduous, dangerous, and they faced extortion by armed police officers.
The most heart-stopping moment was during the boat journey from Capurganá to Cartagena, as part of their clandestine attempt. The boat sped rapidly over the turbulent Caribbean Sea waves, causing intense rocking, elevating bodies over a meter high and then crashing down.
Throughout the perilous journey, Wang kept his head down, wrapped in a raincoat. After over an hour, they reached their destination, where people onboard exchanged high-fives and embraces, relieved to have survived the ordeal.
At the Cartagena camp, Wang met a woman in her fifties who had injured her waist due to the violent boat ride, leading to two months of recovery before being able to walk with a cane.
Introduced by someone, the woman spent 250,000 RMB to undertake the journey circuitously. Hindered by mobility issues, language barriers, and lack of medical care, she managed to bring her husband from China to care for her, but uncertainty loomed over their departure to the U.S.
Wang also shared the tragic experience of another individual walking the circuitous route. Despite having the option to pay $600 for transport to the U.S., he chose to complete the journey himself to save money. However, this decision resulted in dire consequences as he was kidnapped by Mexican gangs, detained for over ten days, and subjected to severe torture. Eventually, after siphoning $5,000 from his credit card, the gang released him.
After enduring numerous hardships, Wang finally arrived in the U.S. Reflecting on his journey, he vowed never to undertake such a perilous route again. He emphasized the value of patience in visa applications and exploring alternative means to fulfill aspirations. Despite the extreme method employed, he considered the experience worthwhile.
Every day in the U.S., Wang finds happiness. The clean air and food safety in America bring him peace of mind. The friendly locals warmly greet him with smiles, showing genuine care and support. This sense of being an independent individual, a free being living with dignity in this world, has been empowering for Wang.
Wang conveyed his message to the ordinary Chinese people, emphasizing the gravest threat posed by the absolute, unbridled power held by the Communist Party. Being synonymous with authoritarianism and cruelty, the Party must be eliminated. Its dictatorial regime cannot endure forever, and the dawn of freedom will eventually shine upon the Chinese land.