HRIC Condemns the Unjust Sentencing of Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing
Human Rights in China strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of feminist activist and journalist Huang Xueqin and labor activist Wang Jianbing, whose work has been invaluable to the feminist and labor causes. Both charged with “inciting subversion of state power,” Huang Xueqin has been given a maximum sentence of five years in prison, deprived of political rights for four years, and fined RMB 100,000, in addition to confiscating her savings of 10,000 Philippine pesos. Wang Jianbing has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison, deprived of political rights for three years, and fined RMB 50,000, in addition to confiscating his savings of RMB 100,000. Huang has declared her intent to appeal; Wang also plans to appeal, pending consultation with his lawyer. These sentences are particularly harsh even in the context of similar political cases, and make clear the government’s intention to punish Huang and Wang not for any real crime, but for their influence in organizing a socially engaged and vibrant civil society.
Huang Xueqin is a well-respected activist and journalist, known for her tireless advocacy on behalf of #MeToo victims. Before her arrest, she had already undergone a period of “enforced disappearance” due to her reporting on the 2019 protests in Hong Kong. Wang Jianbing, a well-known labor activist, has been involved in public interest work since his graduation in 2005 and is a tireless supporter of workers and people with disabilities, as well as the #MeToo movement. In a statement, Wang’s father said: “[Jianbing] has made so many contributions to society and has done charity work for so many years. He can’t possibly be a harm to society (他对社会做了这么多贡献,做了这么多年公益事业。他不可能对社会有什么危害的).” Although both Huang and Wang were already targets for political suppression due to their long-term involvement in activist work, their arrest in this case was triggered by their role in organizing a small weekly social gathering, which Wang started and hosted at his home. From the indictment:
“Since November 2020, defendants Wang Jianbing and Huang Xueqin…have used overseas communication software to post information about gatherings, regularly assembled many people for organized gatherings in defendant Wang Jianbing’s rented residence…and used the opportunity to discuss social topics and incite participants' dissatisfaction with China's state power.”
In fact, these gatherings were an attempt to build community among likeminded citizens who cared deeply about Chinese society and sought to discuss issues such as labor, LGBT+, and women’s rights. As organizers, Huang and Wang wanted to provide a social space where participants could speak freely and receive support from others in the community. Yet, for exercising their right to free expression and assembly—rights protected under international law and the Chinese Constitution—they were targeted and imprisoned, interrogated, tortured, held in solitary confinement, and prevented from meeting or communicating with the outside world. After their arrests, more than 70 of their friends and family were questioned by police, and some were coerced and threatened into signing false confessions implicating Huang and Wang as attempting to “subvert state power.” Some members of their network have been forced to leave Guangzhou due to harassment by the authorities.
The case of Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing is a clear example of the Chinese authorities’ goal to crush civil society activism under the heel of “national security.” They did nothing wrong; they simply hoped to provide a space for mutual aid and civic participation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “[e]veryone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas.” Furthermore, “[e]veryone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Article 35 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China states that citizens “shall enjoy freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, procession and demonstration.” Punishing Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing for exercising these rights is a shameful and indefensible attempt to forcibly silence civil society.
HRIC urges the Chinese government to release both activists immediately, and calls on the international community for their urgent support.