Recently, social media platform X reported that Chinese real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang is seriously ill in prison. His daughter Ren Xinyi wrote a letter to the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, requesting permission for her father to go abroad for medical treatment. Anna Wang, the founder of Guang Media, confirmed to The Epoch Times that this is indeed happening, and she expressed hope for international attention and support for Ren Zhiqiang.
On Thursday, Anna Wang posted on social media platform X, stating that Ren Zhiqiang is in critical condition due to illness, and his daughter Ren Xinyi bravely wrote to Xi Jinping to seek approval for him to seek treatment abroad.
Ren Zhiqiang’s daughter’s letter pleaded, “I earnestly request that based on humanitarian principles, you allow my father to seek medical treatment outside of prison and go abroad for treatment, so that he can reunite with his family in his final days, receive the necessary treatment and care.”
She continued, “My father was diagnosed with a serious prostate disease before entering prison, in urgent need of surgery. Since being imprisoned, he has not received surgery and effective treatment, leading to worsening health conditions.”
“For a long time, he has had to go to the restroom dozens of times at night, suffering from pain and unable to rest properly. In recent months, he has also been diagnosed with asthma, and his health has been deteriorating.”
“We have pleaded multiple times, but he is still not allowed to undergo surgical treatment, which has left us feeling pain and despair.”
Entrepreneur and founder of Guang Media, Anna Wang, told The Epoch Times, “I saw a tweet from Japan this morning, and then it mentioned his daughter sending this letter. Then I asked some friends in China to confirm, and it turns out that this letter was indeed sent by his daughter.”
“In such a situation in China, where everything is under high pressure, writing a letter appealing for one’s own father involves risks. So, I think his daughter is very brave; secondly, the content of her letter is also very comprehensive.”
Regarding the daughter’s disclosure of Ren Zhiqiang’s current condition in the letter, Anna Wang said, “Thirdly, and most importantly, she revealed Ren Zhiqiang’s physical condition.”
“Because since Ren Zhiqiang was imprisoned, there has been no news, and everyone is very concerned. So, she also mentioned Ren Zhiqiang having to get up dozens of times in one night because of his severe prostate disease. This has made it impossible for him to sleep. Also, she mentioned his extremely poor health condition and complications, which the public was unaware of.”
“Therefore, I think this is very important, and Ren Zhiqiang’s son was sentenced to nine years. This family is almost on the verge of collapse. So, his daughter is still very brave.”
Furthermore, Anna Wang stated, “I believe Xi Jinping has always been unlikely to allow Ren Zhiqiang to seek treatment outside of prison. However, we still hope that Xi Jinping can have a conscience, treat those who have contributed to China and hope for a better China well, rather than leading a group of people who lead China to disaster.”
As for the daughter’s statement that the family has repeatedly requested treatment, but received no response, Anna Wang believes, “It shows that Ren Zhiqiang has not been treated well. If he had been treated well, his daughter would not think like this.”
“It seems that Ren Zhiqiang’s condition has deteriorated severely, and his daughter mentioned hoping that he can spend the rest of his life with his family, with her providing assurance.”
She added, “I think most of the current political prisoners in prisons in China have not received the proper protection, that’s for sure.”
Seventy-three-year-old Ren Zhiqiang is a well-known Chinese entrepreneur, serving as Chairman of Hua Yuan Real Estate in Beijing, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Hua Yuan Group, Supervisor of the Beijing Commercial Bank, Director of New China Insurance, and Member of the Beijing CPPCC. He holds a Master’s degree in law from the Chinese People’s Congress. His father, Ren Quansheng, was a former Deputy Minister of the Communist Party’s Ministry of Commerce.
Ren Zhiqiang, known as “Ren Digun,” has repeatedly criticized the authorities.
In 2016, during a visit to CCTV by the Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, CCTV broadcasted “CCTV belongs to the Party, absolutely loyal.” Ren Zhiqiang then questioned on Weibo, “If all the media belong to the Party and do not represent the interests of the people, the people are abandoned and forgotten!”
In February 2020, there was a circulating online article reportedly written by Ren Zhiqiang, criticizing the strict control by the CCP on freedom of speech exacerbated the COVID-19 epidemic, calling Xi Jinping “the clown who insists on being emperor even when stripped naked” and “does not hide his ambition to be the emperor and has a determination to perish anyone who doesn’t let him be the emperor!”
In March of the same year, Ren Zhiqiang lost contact. On April 7, Ren Zhiqiang was accused of “serious violation of discipline and law” and undergoing investigation; on July 23, he was expelled from the Party, deprived of his benefits, and prosecuted; on September 22, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for corruption, bribery, embezzlement causing significant losses to the enterprise of over 116.7 million yuan, making a profit of over 19.41 million yuan, etc.
Ren Zhiqiang expressed obedience to the court’s ruling and decided not to appeal.
Well-known media personality and former editor-in-chief of China Youth Daily, Li Datong, described the sentence as “extremely shameless” and “legal persecution.” Li Datong told Voice of America, all four charges were fabricated by the authorities against Ren Zhiqiang. Ren Zhiqiang couldn’t possibly be guilty, as he was earning over seven million yuan per year during his service, showing no need for corruption.
Li Datong believed that Ren Zhiqiang was forced to confess due to the CCP authorities taking his son as a hostage. When Ren Zhiqiang was arrested in March this year, his eldest son and secretary were also briefly detained.
Ren Zhiqiang’s friend and entrepreneur Wang Ying later wrote in a WeChat post that the CCP’s treatment of Ren Zhiqiang is entirely “political persecution.” Wang Ying said, Ren Zhiqiang had opinions on the Party and the leaders, but the Party did not allow him to have opinions. Ren refused to repent, so the Party expelled him. “At this point, those of us outside the Party dare not say there is an issue. But, directly and all of a sudden, based on the few accusations below, they want to throw this old guy in prison?! This is blatant political persecution!”
The recent revelations about Ren Zhiqiang, with Ren Xinyi appealing to Xi Jinping to “allow my father to seek medical treatment outside of prison and go abroad for treatment,” have sparked discussions and concerns.
Anna Wang stated, “If the call to action can be answered, it would at least show that Xi Jinping has a bit of humanity and empathy at this moment in time. However, I believe Xi Jinping will not do so.”
She considers that there are too many tragedies and disasters in China at present. The international community is overwhelmed by the humanitarian disasters in China, one after another. Therefore, each incident is very serious, such as the case of 80-year-old Gao Yu having all her internet communication methods shut down.
She expressed, “I hope that more people from the international community will stand up to pay attention to and support Ren Zhiqiang.”
Anna Wang is the founder of Guang Media. According to Guang Media’s introduction: a group of journalists from Hong Kong, over the past two years, watching one media organization after another being forced to shut down, journalists trapped in difficulties, the news industry being suppressed, shrouded in white terror, we all feel powerless…
Recently, the Future China Forum, organized by Guang Media and co-organized by 12 other units, was held in Washington D.C. from September 23 to 25, 2024. People from various ethnicities from around the world gathered to discuss and promote the realization of democracy in China. Anna Wang was entrusted to give the keynote address at the conference.