List of Chinese dissidents

This list consists of activists who are known as Chinese dissidents. The label is primarily applied to intellectuals and other high-profile individuals from China who are known for their criticism of the Chinese government or its policies.

Detained and jailed people Many Chinese political activists have been detained or jailed or exiled for their pro-democracy or rights defending activities. They include the following notable activists.

NameOccupationDetainedAllegationsSentenceNotesAi Weiweiartist and activist2011alleged economic crimesFine of 2.4 million for tax evasion Detained for 80 days from 3 April to 22 June 2011Bao Tonggovernment official1989revealing state secrets and counter-revolutionary propagandizing7 yearsSentenced in 1992. Prison from 1989–1996. Later died in 2022.Bao Zunxinhistorian1989counterrevolutionary propaganda and incitement5 yearsSentenced in 1991. Released in 1992. Later died in 2007.Cai Lujunbusinessman, writer2003incitement to subversion3 yearsReleased in 2006, sought political asylum in Taiwan in 2007.Cao Shunlilawyer, human rights activist2013illegal assembly, picking quarrels and provoking troubleDied in detention in 2014.Chen Pokongauthor, commentator, democracy activist19891993"carrying out counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement", illegally crossing state borders3 years, 2 yearsSentenced in 1989 and 1993.Amnesty International, Chen Pokong (30) and other prisoners at Guangzhou No. 1 Reeducation-Through-Labour Center Amnesty International information note on Chen Pokong , 7 December 1994, accessed 2 January 2020Cheng Jianpingonline activist2010disturbing social order1 yearReeducation through labor for a sarcastic post on Twitter.Chinese woman, Cheng Jianping, sentenced to a year in labor camp over Twitter post Aliyah Shahid, 2010 11 18, NY Daily News, via www.nydailynews.com on 2010 11 18Gao Zhishenglawyer2006disturbing public order5 yrs suspendedIllegally detained and tortured in 2007; forcibly removed from family home in Shaanxi in 2009.Human Rights in China, "," February 8, 2009 'Disappeared' by government in 2009, reappeared in 2010. The Chinese foreign minister claimed a prison sentence was for 'subversion'.Guo Quanprofessor2008subversion of state power10 yearsSentenced in 2009. Awaiting appeal.Hao Jinsonglaw professional, activist2019picking quarrels and provoking trouble, fraud9 years and a fine of 350,000 yuanSentenced in 2023.He Depuwriter2002"incited subversion" on the Internet8 yearsSentenced in 2003. Released in 2011.Hu Jiaactivist2007inciting subversion of state power3.5 yearsArrested, imprisoned, and sentenced in 2008. Released in 2011. Huang Qi webmaster, anti-human trafficking activist2000inciting subversion5 yearsSentenced in 2003. Accused of violating articles 103, 105, 55 and 56. Released in 2005.2008illegal possession of state secrets3 yearsSentenced in 2009. Arrested after essay regarding the Sichuan earthquake. Released in 2011.Ilham Tohtieconomist2014inciting subversionlifeDetained in January 2014 after criticizing Beijing's response to 2013 Tiananmen Square attack.Jiang Lijunwriter2002inciting subversion of the state power4 yearsSentenced in 2003. Arrested for "Internet writing and publishing dissident articles". Also sentenced to 'deprivation of political rights' for 1 year. Jiang Rongwriter1989Released 1991.Jiang Yanyongdoctor2004Detained and released in 2004. Broke story on SARS epidemic. Wrote critical letter regarding Tiananmen. Jiang Yefeipolitical cartoonist2015incitement to subversion 6 and a half yearsEscaped from China to Thailand in 2004, he was granted political asylum by the Canadian Government, but was arrested by Thailand Immigration authorities on illegal entry. In November 2015 he was deported from Thailand at the request of the Chinese authorities. On July 13, 2018 he was sentenced to six and a half years. As of July 30, 2022 he has been released after serving his sentence. Lei Chencivil servant, journalist1960incitement to subversion10 years Member of the Control Yuan and expelled from the Kuomintang in 1954. Released in 1970 by the Kuomintang government and died on 7 March 1979. Posthumously exonerated by the Transitional Justice Commission in 2019.Li Haistudent19949 yearsSentenced in 1995. Released in 2004.Li Zhicivil servant2003inciting subversion8 yearsSentenced in 2003. Yahoo! helped the government against him. Expected release in 2011.Liao Yiwuwriter, musician1990poem "Massacre" about Tiananmen Square4 years, permanent blacklist from travelUnder a 2011 'travel ban' for 'national security' reasons.Liu Distudent2002Released in 2003Liu Xiaoboprofessor of literature2008inciting subversion of state power11 yearsSentenced in 2009. Died on 13 July 2017. Recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.Qin Yongminhuman rights activist19982018inciting subversion of state power12 years13 yearsSentenced 1998 and July 2018. Co-founder of the Democracy Party of China.Qiu Zhanxuanstudent activist2019unknown, likely because he was the leader of the Marxist student association at Peking Universityunknown Qiu was abducted on 29 April 2019 by State security agents on the outskirts of Beijing. He was the leader of the Marxist student association at the elite Peking University, a communist of conscience who defied the Chinese Communist Party. He remains missing. Ren Zhiqiangtycoon, blogger2020purported corruption18 yearsSentenced in 2020.Ruan Xiaohuanblogger, InfoSec specialist2021inciting subversion of state power7 yearsSentenced in 2023.Shi Taojournalist, writer, poet2004illegally supplying state secrets to overseas organizations10 yearsSentenced in 2005. Yahoo! helped the government against him. Released 2013."About Shi Tao ," Incorporating Responsibility 2008Tan Zuorenwriter20083 yearsSentenced in 2009.2010subversion of state power5 yearsSentenced in 2010.Tang Baiqiaoactivist1989spreading counterrevolutionary propaganda; inciting counterrevolutionary activities; defection to the enemy; treason. 3 yearsReleased under international pressure in 1991. Fled to Hong Kong, then United States in 1992.Wang Bingzhangdoctor2002spying, terrorismlifeSentenced in 2003.Wang Danprofessor of history1989Tiananmen activities4 yearsSentenced in 1991. Released on parole in 1993.199511 yearsSentenced in 1996. Released on medical parole to United States in 1998 and currently in Taiwan.Wang Quanzhanglawyer2015subversion of state power4½ yearsPut on trial in December 2018, sentenced in January 2019.Wang Xiaoningengineer2002incitement to subvert state power10 yearsSentenced in 2003. Yahoo! helped the government against him. Expected release in 2012Wang Youcai19891998subversion11 yearsReleased and exiled in 2004. Currently in the United States.Wei Jingshengelectrician1979passing military secrets15 yearsReleased and jailed again in 1993 and released for "medical reasons" and deported to the United States in 1997.Wu Ganblogger2015subversion of state power8 yearsXu Zhiyonglawyer, lecturer2014gathering crowds to disrupt public order4 yearsFor his role of founding New Citizens' Movement and in protests.Xu Zhangrunconstitutional lawyer and lecturer2020using prostitutesone weekYang Jianliactivist, scholar2002alleged espionage & illegal entry5 yearsThe Chinese government placed Yang on a 1994 blacklist of 49 pro-democracy activists barred from returning to China. Yang used another person's passport to enter China in 2002.Yu Wenshenglawyer 2020 inciting subversion of state power4 years According to Yu's wife Xu Yan, he was also deprived of his citizens' rights for three years.Yuan Hongbingjurist, writer1994Detained and forced to leave China in 1994. Travelled to and sought political asylum in Australia in 2004. Yue Xinstudent activist2018unknown, likely in response to protests organized by Yueunknown Yue went missing in October 2018, after she and fifty other students were detained by Chinese authorities after participating in Jasic Incident. She remains missing. Zeng Jinyanblogger2006suspected of harming state securityUnder house arrest with husband Hu Jia from August 2006 – March 2007 and under house arrest again from May 2007; released laterZhao Changqingteacher of history1989Tiananmen activitiesReleased after about 1/2 year.1998workers rights activity3 years2002attempted subversion of state power5 yearsSentenced in 2003.Zhao Lianhaifood safety worker, activist2009inciting social disorder2.5 yearsSentenced in 2010.Father of poisoned baby rallies parents in tainted-milk fight - thestar.com , Bill Schiller, Asia Bureau, Toronto Star, via www.thestar.com on 2010 11 10China food safety activist given 2 years Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press – Wed Nov 10, 2:41 am ET, via news.yahoo.com on 2010 11 10

Others Michael Anti (journalist), proponent of freedom of the press in China Chai Ling Chang Ping Chaohua Wang Chen Guangcheng Dong Yaoqiong Fang Lizhi Feng Congde Feng Zhenghu Gao Xingjian, recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Literature Gao Yu (journalist) Gao Zhisheng Gui Minhai, publisher and writer of books on Chinese politics Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo Han Dongfang Jiao Guobiao, former professor of Peking University and the author of Denouncing the Central Propaganda Department (of the Communist Party of China) Li Hongkuan Li Hongzhi, founder and leader of Falun Gong Li Lu Li Qiaochu Lin Zhao, critic of Mao Zedong, executed during the Cultural Revolution Li Zehou, scholar of philosophy and intellectual history Liu Binyan Alex Liu (Yongchuan Liu), data scientist Lu Jinghua, former merchant who became involved in the Beijing Workers' Autonomous Federation in 1989. She later lived in New York. Attempted to return to Beijing in June 1993 but was refused entry and sent back to US. Murong Xuecun, writer and critic of censorship Shen Tong Su Changlan Su Xiaokang Tang Baiqiao Tashi Wangchuk, sentenced to 5 years in prison in May 2018 for "inciting separatism" after speaking to The New York Times about his concerns over the current state of Tibetan culture and language in China. Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher Wang Bingzhang Wang Meiyu (王美雨), democracy activist who died in police custody under suspicious circumstances in September 2019 after having been arrested for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in July 2019 when he was protesting for universal suffrage and calling for the resignation of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang Wang Ruowang Harry Wu Wu'erkaixi Xie Wanjun, founding member of the Democracy Party of China Xiong Yan (dissident) Xu Jiatun Xue Fei (host) Yan Jiaqi Yang Jianli Youming Che Yu Jie, dissident writer Zhang Boli Zheng Yi (writer) Zhou Fengsuo Weiping Qin

List of Chinese dissidents

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