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| Multi-millionaire investor detained in China's crackdown on activists | Multi-millionaire investor detained in China's crackdown on activists |
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| Chinese police have detained a multimillionaire investor in what human rights campaigners warn is a broadening crackdown on activists. | |
| Wang Gongquan was taken into custody by up to 20 Beijing police officers on Friday on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order", according to supporters. | |
| His friend Xu Zhiyong, a well-known lawyer and leading member of a grassroots grouping supporting civil society, was formally arrested on the same charge last month after weeks in detention. | |
| "Wang was summoned at noon … it was because he has taken part in social activities, human rights activities with Xu Zhiyong," said lawyer Teng Biao. | |
| Human Rights Watch said earlier this week that 17 members of the loosely organised New Citizens movement are among 55 people detained since spring for organising collective actions of various kinds, including protests. Sixteen of those have since been released, some on bail, but friends are increasingly concerned that others will be indicted, tried and jailed. | Human Rights Watch said earlier this week that 17 members of the loosely organised New Citizens movement are among 55 people detained since spring for organising collective actions of various kinds, including protests. Sixteen of those have since been released, some on bail, but friends are increasingly concerned that others will be indicted, tried and jailed. |
| Activists fear the moves are part of a broader tightening of the political environment by the new leadership under Xi Jinping, including the curbing of online dissent. | Activists fear the moves are part of a broader tightening of the political environment by the new leadership under Xi Jinping, including the curbing of online dissent. |
| "There is no doubt that this is a step up in the suppression of critical voices in China," said Nicholas Bequelin, a senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. | "There is no doubt that this is a step up in the suppression of critical voices in China," said Nicholas Bequelin, a senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. |
| "You have a twin push in the real world and the virtual world. Anywhere you look at the moment − it's the same direction. | "You have a twin push in the real world and the virtual world. Anywhere you look at the moment − it's the same direction. |
| "Suddenly people who were somewhat tolerated before find themselves vulnerable − and all of this is happening while China is seeking a seat on the human rights council at the United Nations," Bequelin added, saying that the current push was more than a cyclical crackdown on dissent. | "Suddenly people who were somewhat tolerated before find themselves vulnerable − and all of this is happening while China is seeking a seat on the human rights council at the United Nations," Bequelin added, saying that the current push was more than a cyclical crackdown on dissent. |
| Chinese scholars have also expressed concern about increased pressure on academics. Unusually, the state-run English news website China Daily also reported on Wang's detention, although it said police had taken him for "unknown reasons". | Chinese scholars have also expressed concern about increased pressure on academics. Unusually, the state-run English news website China Daily also reported on Wang's detention, although it said police had taken him for "unknown reasons". |
| In an interview with the South China Morning Post in July, Wang said: "In today's China people are getting arrested every day. It's impractical for one to claim that he has no fears. But I may not be as scared as many others, because I have been involved in such matters for years − meetings and discussions." | |
| The 51-year-old added: "For a long time I have been harshly criticising some problems in the government, including in the ruling party. Some have called my comments radical. I don't feel radical at all. I think some entrepreneurs fear too much." | The 51-year-old added: "For a long time I have been harshly criticising some problems in the government, including in the ruling party. Some have called my comments radical. I don't feel radical at all. I think some entrepreneurs fear too much." |
| Some think Wang is being punished in part for pressing for Xu's release and releasing a video showing his friend, speaking inside jail, urging citizens to pursue their rights. Sui Muqing, a lawyer acting for Guo Feixiong − another detained rights advocate − suggested the government might be seeking to discourage business people from financially supporting activists. | Some think Wang is being punished in part for pressing for Xu's release and releasing a video showing his friend, speaking inside jail, urging citizens to pursue their rights. Sui Muqing, a lawyer acting for Guo Feixiong − another detained rights advocate − suggested the government might be seeking to discourage business people from financially supporting activists. |
| Guo was detained on the "gathering crowds" charge in mid-August but Sui's requests to meet his client have been rejected four times, the lawyer said. | Guo was detained on the "gathering crowds" charge in mid-August but Sui's requests to meet his client have been rejected four times, the lawyer said. |
| Backers have said that the New Citizens movement operates within the constitution, but its popularity appears to have roused the concern of authorities. Hundreds of supporters turned up to its informal dinners. | Backers have said that the New Citizens movement operates within the constitution, but its popularity appears to have roused the concern of authorities. Hundreds of supporters turned up to its informal dinners. |
| Members also called on officials to publicly disclose their assets − a message clearly unwelcome to authorities despite the new leadership's pledge to root out corruption. | Members also called on officials to publicly disclose their assets − a message clearly unwelcome to authorities despite the new leadership's pledge to root out corruption. |
| Liu Ping, an activist from Jiangxi who held a protest demanding such disclosure in April, has been indicted for illegal assembly, gathering a crowd to disrupt public order and using a cult to damage enforcement of the law, Human Rights in China reported last month. | Liu Ping, an activist from Jiangxi who held a protest demanding such disclosure in April, has been indicted for illegal assembly, gathering a crowd to disrupt public order and using a cult to damage enforcement of the law, Human Rights in China reported last month. |
| Wang, a venture capitalist, is one of a number of business people who have become increasingly bold in their calls for reform and criticism of the government. But authorities this week underlined their determination to rein in "big Vs" − verified users with large followings − by issuing a new judicial interpretation warning people may be charged with defamation if they post rumours which are read by 5,000 users or forwarded more than 500 times. | Wang, a venture capitalist, is one of a number of business people who have become increasingly bold in their calls for reform and criticism of the government. But authorities this week underlined their determination to rein in "big Vs" − verified users with large followings − by issuing a new judicial interpretation warning people may be charged with defamation if they post rumours which are read by 5,000 users or forwarded more than 500 times. |
| Microbloggers also voiced intense scepticism after Chinese-born American investor Xue Manzi, or Charles Xue, was detained in Beijing last month on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes. Many suspected the decision to parade him on television was intended to deter other prominent figures from his brand of caustic commentary. | Microbloggers also voiced intense scepticism after Chinese-born American investor Xue Manzi, or Charles Xue, was detained in Beijing last month on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes. Many suspected the decision to parade him on television was intended to deter other prominent figures from his brand of caustic commentary. |
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