September 15th is “International Day of Democracy”, a holiday aimed at promoting and upholding democratic principles. On this day, overseas activist Zhou Feng gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate in Iceland to call for an end to the persecution of Chinese democracy activists by the Chinese Communist Party and the immediate release of Wang Bingzhang.
Wang Bingzhang, originally a medical scholar who obtained his doctorate in Canada in the 1980s, later turned to politics, engaging in overseas Chinese democratic movements and founding the political journal “China Spring.” In 1983, the China Democracy Unity League was established in New York, with Wang Bingzhang elected as its chairman.
In 2002, while traveling in Vietnam, Wang Bingzhang was abducted by Chinese Communist agents and brought back to China, where he was accused of espionage and terrorist activities. In 2003, Wang Bingzhang was convicted by a Chinese court, sentenced to life imprisonment, and held in solitary confinement for years.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the founding of the China Democracy Party. Wang Bingzhang’s sister, Wang Yuhua, wrote a letter of appeal, stating that since 2013 she has been denied the right to visit Wang Bingzhang. The continued solitary confinement of Wang Bingzhang by the Chinese Communist Party is a violation of international human rights, according to Wang Yuhua.
According to a report on rights defense websites on June 28, 2024, Wang Bingzhang’s brother disclosed his brother’s condition in prison, noting that although Wang Bingzhang is still alive, his health is deteriorating. His blood pressure frequently reaches 200/mmHg, causing him to collapse at one point. Family members fear he may suffer another stroke and be unable to get up.
Wang Bingzhang’s brother stated that if the worst were to happen, the entire family would, in accordance with his wishes, go to China with lawyers and forensic experts to investigate the responsibility of the Chinese Communist government.
In addition to Wang Bingzhang, over 300 members of the China Democracy Party have been arrested and sentenced in the past 26 years. Xu Guang was sentenced to 4 years for “provoking troubles,” Zhu Yufu served a total of 16 years in prison, Mao Qingxiang was sentenced to 8 years for “subverting state power,” Wen Qifeng reportedly died from torture in prison, Xue Mingkai was sentenced to a total of 5 years and 6 months for being charged twice with “subverting state power,” Zha Jianguo was sentenced to 9 years for “attempting to overthrow the Communist Party of China,” Gao Hongming was sentenced to 8 years for “subverting state power”…
Zhou Feng, speaking to a reporter from Da Ji Yuan, stated, “On ‘International Day of Democracy’, we strongly urge the Chinese government to immediately cease the persecution of Chinese democracy activists and other dissenters. Dr. Wang Bingzhang, as a key figure in promoting democratization in China, has been unjustly imprisoned for his tireless efforts. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Wang Bingzhang and all other China Democracy Party members detained for pursuing democracy, freedom, and justice.”
This year marks the 17th “International Day of Democracy,” symbolizing the core values of democracy: human rights, rule of law, freedom, fairness, and citizen participation.
Zhou Feng emphasized, “We call on all countries around the world to pay attention to China’s democratic progress and to support the courageous warriors fighting for freedom and the Chinese democracy activists. Calling for China to advance towards freedom and democracy at an early date is the responsibility of each and every one of us. We firmly believe that only through respecting and defending these universal values can true social progress and justice be realized. We urge the immediate release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang by the Chinese Communist Party!”
Due to his contributions to the Chinese democracy movement, Wang Bingzhang has received numerous international accolades over the years, including the annual Freedom Award from Freedom House, an international human rights organization, presented in May of this year.