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{{Short description|Chinese dissident}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Chinesefamily name hatnote|[[Wang (surname)|Wang]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{expand Chinese|date=March 2023|topic=bio}}
'''Wang Bingzhang''' ({{zh|c=王炳章|p=Wáng Bǐngzhāng}}; born FebruaryDecember 630, 19481947) is a Chinese [[human rights activist]] and founder of two Chinese pro-democracy movements. He was abducted in [[Vietnam]] in June 2002 and detained by Chinese secret police. The Chinese government announced his detention in December 2002, charging him with espionage for Taiwan and terrorism, including in connection with an alleged plot to attack the Chinese embassy in Bangkok.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wang Bingzhang: Political Dissident Still Imprisoned by China |url=https://www.cbc.ca/firsthand/m_features/wang-bingzhang-political-dissident-still-imprisoned-by-china |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> He was sentenced to life in prison and is considered a [[political prisoner]] of China. Since his imprisonment, evidence has emerged that the Chinese government fabricated testimony against him. In addition, both Taiwanese and Thai authorities have issued official statements contradicting the Chinese government's accusations against him.
 
==BackgroundBiography==
Wang Bingzhang was born on December 30, 1947,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wang Bingzhang et al. v. China, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention |url=http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/wgad/10-2003.html |publisher=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |date=May 9, 2003}}</ref> in [[Shijiazhuang]], [[Hebei]], China. He graduated from [[Beijing Medical University]] and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in [[McGill University]], Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in [[pathology]] in 1982.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.wangbingzhang.us/about/article0005_en.htm An Introduction Of Dr. Wangbingzhang<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Wang Bingzhang is the first citizen of the [[People's Republic of China]] to get a doctorate degree in North America.
 
In 1982, Wang established ''China Spring'', the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. The next year, he launched the "Union of Chinese Democracy Movement", Alliance for Democratic China ({{lang|zh|中国民主团结联盟}} (translated variously as "Alliance for Democratic China"/"China Alliance for Democracy"/"Union of Chinese Democracy Movement"), publicly denouncing the [[one-party rule]] in China. He later traveled back to China and co-founded two [[opposition parties]], the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led to his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
 
In June 2002, Wang went to [[Vietnam]] with [[Yue Wu (activist)|Yue Wu]] and [[Zhang Qi (activist)|Zhang Qi]] where they were captured. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in custody.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170132003?open&of=ENG-CHN China: Further information on Possible disappearance/Incommunicado detention/Fear for Safety] Press Release from Amnesty International - February 12, 2003</ref>▼
== Kidnapping and Imprisonment ==
In early 2001, Wang was in [[Thailand]] when, acting on a tip from a Chinese national that Wang was plotting to attack the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, [[Royal Thai Police]] investigated him.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Thai_Police_statement_regarding_Wang_Bingzhang.pdf</ref> They found no evidence of such a plot.<ref name=":0">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Thai_Police_statement_regarding_Wang_Bingzhang.pdf</ref> Instead, they realized that Wang was a pro-democracy activist.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Thai_Police_statement_regarding_Wang_Bingzhang.pdf</ref> Given Chinese influence in Thailand, and fearing for Wang's safety, they urged Wang to leave the country.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Thai_Police_statement_regarding_Wang_Bingzhang.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.chinesepen.org/english/family-files-petition-to-redress-the-case-of-dr-wang-bingzhang</ref>
 
In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehaving when he went on [[hunger strike]] to plead for release to pay a final respect to his father at his funeral; but he was handcuffed by and locked with a jail guard in his jail cell. This resulted in prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health had deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden who served much lower food quality, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/92000/asa170382004en.pdf Medical Action China: Ill-health of Dr Wang Bingzhang, imprisoned medical doctor and activist] Amnesty International Press Release – July 20, 2004</ref>▼
In June 2002, Wang went to [[Vietnam]] with [[Yue Wu (activist)|Yue Wu]] and [[Zhang Qi (activist)|Zhang Qi]] where, according to [[Yue Wu (activist)|Yue Wu]], they were seized by Chinese-speaking agents who claimed they were Vietnamese authorities.<ref>https://www.ukcdp.co.uk/wang/yuewu.htm</ref> However, instead of taking them to a police station, the agents took them to a nearby river where there was a waiting ferry.<ref>https://www.ukcdp.co.uk/wang/yuewu.htm</ref> From there, they were brought to Guangxi Province, where, after being held for several days, they were left for Chinese authorities to retrieve.<ref>https://www.ukcdp.co.uk/wang/yuewu.htm</ref>
 
Various international organizations, including the [[United Nations]], [[Amnesty International]], [[Human Rights Watch]], [httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20060106063724/http://world-rights.org/home.htm Worldrights], and the [[Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights]], etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him.<ref>[http://www.freechina.net/2004/UN/00002.htm UN Declares Wang Bingzhang To Be Arbitrarily Detained] Decision from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - April 11, 2003</ref> The United States and Canadian legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the [[Communist Party of China|CPCCCP]]'s actions.<ref>[http://www.world-rights.org/china/326.htm Full text of US House of Representatives Resolution]</ref><ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=3272&SourceId=66274 Full text of Canadian Parliamentary Resolution]</ref> Freedom House awarded Dr Wang the 2024 Freedom Award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Freedom House Announces 2024 Award Recipients and Michael J. Abramowitz Fund for Freedom in the World |url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-house-announces-2024-award-recipients-and-michael-j-abramowitz-fund-freedom-world |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=Freedom House |date=9 May 2024}}</ref>▼
▲In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170132003?open&of=ENG-CHN China: Further information on Possible disappearance/Incommunicado detention/Fear for Safety] Press Release from Amnesty International - February 12, 2003</ref>
 
== Trial ==
In February 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison, on charges of [[espionage]] for Taiwan and [[terrorism]]. He was sentenced to ten years in prison on the latter charge, and life in prison on the former. His trial was closed to the public and lasted for one day. He is imprisoned in the [[Shaoguan Prison]].
 
== Evidence Fabricated by Chinese Government ==
According to Ni Jinbin, who, along with Zhang Yiqun, met Wang in Shanghai in 1998, and whose testimony was included in the verdict against Wang, Ni left China in 1998, and never gave the cited testimony.<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> Further, according to Ni, in April 2003, Zhang Yiqun, whose testimony was also cited in the verdict against Wang, emailed Ni after Wang's verdict became public.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> Zhang explained that in late 2002, Chinese security agents visited him over the course of several days, and detained him overnight in various hotels, in an effort to get him to give testimony against Wang.<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> They presented him with a statement they'd written and asked Zhang to sign it.<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> Zhang refused, asked them to leave him alone, and asked them to treat him as if he were a deceased person.<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> The security agents told Zhang: "Even if you were dead, we'd still be able to get your signature. We are experts when it comes to documents. If we so desired, we could find many "Zhang Yiquns."<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> It was only months later, when news of Wang's imprisonment broke, that Zhang realized that Wang was in Chinese custody at the time.<ref>https://news.boxun.com/news/gb/z_special/2004/03/200403311045.shtml</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref><ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref> Ni Jinbin later provided a sworn declaration to the Wang family attesting to these facts, including his receipt of the email from Zhang.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ni_Jinbin_Declaration.pdf</ref>
 
== Conditions of Confinement ==
▲In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehaving when he went [[hunger strike]] to plead for release to pay a final respect to his father at his funeral; but he was handcuffed by and locked with a jail guard in his jail cell. This resulted in prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health had deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden who served much lower food quality, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/92000/asa170382004en.pdf Medical Action China: Ill-health of Dr Wang Bingzhang, imprisoned medical doctor and activist] Amnesty International Press Release – July 20, 2004</ref>
 
Throughout his confinement, Wang has been kept in what is essentially solitary confinement, in that he is not permitted routine interaction with other prisoners.
 
== Exonerating Evidence on Both Espionage and Terrorism Charges ==
In 2009, the Royal Thai Police issued a statement contradicting a key plank of the Chinese government's claims against Wang, namely an alleged plot to attack the Chinese embassy in Bangkok. According to the Royal Thai Police, who'd carefully monitored Wang's activities in Bangkok, and who investigated a tip relating to such a plot, no evidence for such a plot existed.<ref name=":0" />
 
In 2013, the Taiwanese legislature asked the [[National Security Bureau (Taiwan)]], the main intelligence agency of Taiwan, whether Wang had ever done intelligence work on Taiwan's behalf. The [[National Security Bureau (Taiwan)]] conducted an inquiry and stated that the answer was no.<ref>https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statement_by_the_National_Security_Bureau_(Taiwan).pdf</ref><ref>https://www.chinesepen.org/english/family-files-petition-to-redress-the-case-of-dr-wang-bingzhang</ref>
 
== Religious Beliefs ==
Wang Bingzhang is a Christian. In Nov. 2017, the 1st edition of the book written by Wang Bingzhang during his time as a political prisoner was published. The book is about decoding the Bible. The publication ceremony was at the Bible Museum in Washington DC on the 19th of November.
 
== International Community Support ==
▲Various international organizations, including the [[United Nations]], [[Amnesty International]], [[Human Rights Watch]], [http://www.world-rights.org/ Worldrights], the [[Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights]], etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him.<ref>[http://www.freechina.net/2004/UN/00002.htm UN Declares Wang Bingzhang To Be Arbitrarily Detained] Decision from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - April 11, 2003</ref> The United States and Canadian legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the [[Communist Party of China|CPC]]'s actions.<ref>[http://www.world-rights.org/china/326.htm Full text of US House of Representatives Resolution]</ref><ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=3272&SourceId=66274 Full text of Canadian Parliamentary Resolution]</ref>
 
==See also==
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==External links==
*[httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20060106063724/http://world-rights.org/home.htm Worldrights]
*"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2593593.stm China's veteran dissident]" (BBC)
* [http://cdjp.org/ Chinese Democracy Justice Party] website
{{1989 Tiananmen protests}}
{{Authority control}}
 
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[[Category:Chinese prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:McGill University Faculty of Medicine alumni]]
[[Category:Political prisoners in China]]
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