Renowned mainland Chinese writer and journalist Tie Liu (Huang Zerong) passed away at the age of 92 on Sunday (September 8). Tie Liu had participated in a joint letter to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress appealing for press freedom. He also criticized Liu Yunshan, a former member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Political Bureau who oversaw ideology, which led to Tie Liu being convicted of provocation and conducting illegal business.
According to human rights websites, Tie Liu’s son, Huang Xiaotie, announced his father’s death on September 8, stating that Tie Liu peacefully passed away at Mount Qingcheng Hospital in Chengdu. The obituary mentioned that Tie Liu’s life was full of ups and downs, luck, and legends, and he was always grateful to the country and society. The family plans to hold a memorial service at the Ducheng Funeral Home in Dujiangyan at 2 p.m. today (September 10).
Tie Liu, whose real name was Huang Zerong, pen name Xiaofeng, was born on May 29, 1933, in Chengdu, Sichuan province. He was a Chinese journalist and writer, who started his career in 1956 as a reporter at the newly established Chengdu Daily. In 1957, he was labeled as a rightist during the Anti-Rightist Movement and was imprisoned for 23 years until he was exonerated in 1980, after which he relocated to Beijing to start a new chapter in his life.
In 2010, Tie Liu established the “Tie Liu News Fund” with one million RMB to assist journalists and writers in need. In October 2010, Tie Liu and a group of Chinese journalists collectively wrote to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee urging for the removal of media censorship to achieve press freedom.
In 2011, Tie Liu pointed out Mao Zedong’s violations of natural laws during the so-called “Great Leap Forward,” which led to the man-made famines that resulted in the deaths of over 37 million Chinese people. He also criticized the persecution of loyal individuals during the “Cultural Revolution” for personal gain.
Tie Liu had bonds with liberal economist Mao Yushi and veteran mainland media personality Gao Yu. In March 2014, Tie Liu wrote an article expressing his firm stance with Mao Yushi against any evil forces that idolize Mao Zedong.
In August 2014, Tie Liu published an article overseas calling out former Political Bureau member Liu Yunshan for obstructing anti-corruption efforts with the backing of a powerful support network. The article exposed hidden agendas related to Liu Yunshan’s appointment, opposition from democratic parties, and warnings about his misconduct and news monopolization scandals.
In September 2014, Tie Liu was arrested by Beijing police, transferred back to his hometown of Chengdu for detention, and ultimately sentenced to two and a half years in prison with a four-year probation period. Tie Liu’s defense lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan, revealed that Tie Liu was shackled with 30-kilogram ankle cuffs for 12 days due to illness before his trial. Authorities also coerced Tie Liu into signing multiple pledges, including giving up his right to appeal and refraining from engaging in politics or making public statements.
On March 12, 2019, Liu Xiaoyuan tweeted that Tie Liu was detained for writing articles on provocation charges and distributing a booklet titled “Traces of the Past,” which was considered illegal business activities. He received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence with a four-year probation period, which has since been completed and his corrections have been lifted.
Liu shared that he completed procedures at the Qingyang District Office in Chengdu with family by his side at 10 a.m., mentioning that he endured over four years of imprisonment in his hometown for criticizing Liu Yunshan, a Political Bureau member.
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities imposed strict controls. In September 22, 2022, the 90-year-old Tie Liu wrote a letter to Premier Li Keqiang criticizing the government’s handling of the pandemic, specifically addressing the excessive restrictions and inconveniences faced by the public, which led to numerous complaints and lack of recourse.
Tie Liu recounted a cholera outbreak in Chengdu in 1943 where two people in his neighborhood died within two weeks, highlighting a comparison with the current COVID-19 situation where no deaths were reported yet people were unable to live peacefully. He criticized the chaos caused by city lockdowns, frequent testing, and mishandling of cases, highlighting various incidents that led to tragedies.
Upon learning of Tie Liu’s passing, Gao Yu mourned his death on the social platform X, acknowledging Tie Liu’s steadfast anti-Mao Zedong stance. She noted differences in their views on Chinese politics over the past forty years, speculating that Tie Liu’s ideals may have evolved due to persecution over the last decade. She fondly remembered Tie Liu’s edited collection “Traces of the Past” as a poignant portrayal of the hardships endured during the Anti-Rightist Movement.
“Traces of the Past” was a collection of memoirs jointly written by Tie Liu and other individuals who were labeled rightists in 1957, recounting their personal experiences during the Anti-Rightist Movement. The text was not intended for public distribution but was circulated as photocopies among the victims, until it was seized by authorities before the 60th anniversary of the Communist Party’s founding in 2009.