EAn activist from Taiwan has returned to his homeland after five years in prison in China. Lee Ming-che, a folk high school lecturer and human rights NGO activist, disappeared while visiting China in 2017. Months later, he resurfaced and was found guilty of subversion by a Chinese court.
His wife, Lee Ching-yu, said she was not allowed to get her husband a lawyer. She was also repeatedly denied visits to prison before the outbreak of the pandemic. International human rights groups called for Lee’s release, and the European Parliament passed a resolution in July 2017.
Lee landed at Taiwan’s international airport on Friday morning and is now initially in quarantine. Photos show him being escorted to a waiting car by people in hazmat suits.
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During his trial, Lee admitted to criticizing the ruling Chinese Communist Party and disseminating articles and arguments promoting multi-party democracy in Taiwan.
Observers in Taiwan criticized the process as a show trial. In her view, an example should be made of Lee to make it clear to the people of Taiwan that any of them could become the target of persecution in China – including for “offenses”, such as expressions of opinion, which take place outside the People’s Republic.
After Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen took office in mid-2016, China cut off communication channels, accused the head of state of separatist tendencies and resorted to various punitive measures, including Lee’s arrest. Tsai regularly emphasizes her willingness to resolve conflicts in talks on an equal footing. However, Taiwan’s democratic self-determination is non-negotiable.
The government in Beijing claims Taiwan for itself, wants to bring the island under Chinese control and expressly does not rule out military force. China has repeatedly underscored its claim to power with maneuvers. The People’s Republic has never ruled Taiwan since it was founded in 1949.