A Taiwanese activist jailed in China said on Tuesday that he was subjected to forced labour and endured stale food while serving a five-year sentence, but that he was not tortured.
Li Ming-che, a community college lecturer and activist at a human rights non-governmental organisation in Taiwan, disappeared while visiting China in 2017.
Later that year, a Chinese court found him guilty of subversion. He was released from jail and returned to Taiwan last month.Speaking to reporters at Taiwan's parliament, Li said he was forced to make clothing including shoes and gloves during his time in jail, working 11-12 hours a day with few days off, and he was not allowed to speak to most other prisoners.
Li said he was only trying to help Chinese political prisoners and their families to ensure they were not left destitute, and that he was not allowed to defend himself during his trial, adding he thought the charges against him were "laughable". Asked if he had anything he wanted to say to China's government now he was back in Taiwan and free, Li answered: "Taiwan and China are each one country on either side" of the Taiwan Strait.Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of China and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control, while democratic Taiwan has shown no interest in being governed by the Communist Party rulers in Beijing.
Li stood trial alongside Chinese national Peng Yuhua, who confessed to creating instant messaging groups and founding an organisation that sought to promote political change in China.Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreSubscribe to our sustainability newsletter to make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China says it conducted exercises near TaiwanChina's armed forces carried out another round of exercises near Taiwan last week to improve joint combat operations, the People's Liberation Army said on Monday, after the Chinese-claimed island reported a spike in activity.
Read more »
Earthquake shakes area between Taiwan, Japan; no tsunamiTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A strong earthquake shook seas between eastern Taiwan and southwestern Japan on Monday, but authorities said there was no danger of a tsunami. Light shaking was felt in Taipei, but no damage has been reported.
Read more »
Shares stumble in Asia as rate hikes, China slowdown weigh on sentimentShares fell in most Asian markets on Monday as interest rate hikes and a slowing Chinese economy weighed on investor sentiment.
Read more »
China Remains an Outlier in a World of Surging InflationConsumer prices in the world’s second-largest economy have held relatively steady, but China’s experience will be hard to replicate elsewhere.
Read more »