Xu Zhiyong Tried for Advocacy of Education Equality and Official Transparency

January 23, 2014

The trial of Xu Zhiyong, a prominent legal rights advocate and leading proponent of the New Citizens’ Movement in China, reportedly began on January 22, 2014. Chinese authorities indicted Xu Zhiyong on the charge of “gathering a crowd to disturb social order” after months of confinement at home (April–July 2013) and criminal detention and arrest (July–December 2013). The government alleges that Xu was a “ringleader” of incidents that took place in 2012 and 2013 during which individuals called for education equality for the children of migrant workers and the disclosure of government officials’ assets. Xu’s legal representative claims the case involves procedural irregularities. In addition to Xu, Chinese authorities have detained or indicted dozens of Chinese rights activists for “illegal assembly” or “gathering a crowd to disrupt social order” since spring 2013, which human rights advocates assert is part of a systematic crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly.   

On January 22, 2014, the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate Court began the trial of Xu Zhiyong, a leading Chinese legal and civil rights advocate, on the charge of “gathering a crowd to disturb social order.”[1] The Chinese procuratorate’s December 13, 2013, indictment against Xu alleges he was a “ringleader” who “organized, planned, and incited” activities in 2012 and 2013 that promoted education equality and government transparency which resulted in a “serious” impact on public order.[2] Xu and his lawyers reportedly remained silent during most of the court proceedings to protest procedural irregularities.[3] The presiding judge, however, allowed Xu to read from a statement, but interrupted him frequently and stopped him after 10 minutes saying that it was “irrelevant.”[4]  Prior to the trial, Xu’s lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, reportedly stated that Xu “believes that his conviction is all but certain, although he will fight the charges.”[5] He faces up to five years in prison under China’s Criminal Law (CL, art. 291).[6]   

 

Xu’s Detention and Arrest Show Procedural Irregularities

Xu’s lawyer claims his case was marred by “major” procedural irregularities.[7] These irregularities include a three-month period of home confinement during which Chinese authorities brought Xu to an undisclosed location for “interviews,” official obstruction of his access to legal counsel after authorities initially detained him at a detention center, and the separation of the state’s prosecution of his case from others mentioned in his indictment and who were arrested for the same events. The case chronology follows:

  • On April 12, 2013, Chinese authorities stop Xu at the Beijing International Airport from boarding a flight to Hong Kong to attend a symposium on the 10th anniversary of the abolition of the extrajudicial form of detention, “custody and repatriation.”[8] Officers from the Cultural Protection Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) transferred Xu to his university office, and later that evening, to his home.[9]
  • From April 12 through July 16, authorities confined Xu to his home.[10] [Note:  Commission staff have not observed any reports indicating that authorities served Xu with legal documents that stipulated home arrest or surveillance during that period.] Based on Xu’s account posted to his personal blog, Chinese security officials transferred Xu to an undisclosed location on June 25, 26, and 28, 2013, for “interviews” about his advocacy efforts, including his work with the New Citizens’ Movement.[11]
  • On July 16, security officials from the Public Transportation Protection Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, criminally detained Xu and transferred him to the Beijing No. 3 PSB Detention Center.[12] Authorities prevented lawyer Liu Weiguo from meeting with Xu at the detention center, and reportedly detained Liu for six hours.[13]
  • On August 22, Beijing procuratorate officials authorized Xu’s formal arrest.[14]
  • On December 4, the Beijing PSB sent a recommendation for indictment to the Beijing Municipal Procuratorate No. 1 Branch.[15] On December 13, the Procuratorate issued an indictment against Xu.[16]
    • The PSB recommendation for indictment asserts that Xu’s postings, including photos and video clips of the government transparency protests, amounted to “severely disturbing order in…public spaces on the Internet,” and thus Xu and other defendants were eligible for “criminal prosecution.”[17]
  • A pre-trial hearing took place at the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate Court on January 17.[19] A closed-door trial was held on January 22.[20]

 

Chinese Citizens’ Right to Freedom of Assembly and Expression

Human rights advocates have argued that the detention since spring 2013 of Xu and other rights advocates amounts to a systemic crackdown on civic activism, and freedom of expression and assembly.[21] Authorities detained, arrested, and tried citizens for speech and assembly despite protections provided by international law and China’s Constitution. Articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Articles 19 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provide for the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Articles 35 and 41 of China’s Constitution provide citizens with the rights of free speech, assembly, and association, as well as the right to criticize their government. The Beijing procuratorate’s December 13 indictment against Xu claims Xu and others “organized, planned, and incited” people to assemble. In addition, the indictment itemizes instances in which individuals held banners, attempted to speak with officials, and publicly discussed education equality for the children of migrant workers; or held banners, took photos and video, distributed printed materials, and publicly spoke about the need for government officials to disclose their assets.[22]

While the indictment claims that these events drew large crowds and that some people mentioned in Xu’s indictment defied and hindered public security management personnel from enforcing the law, Xu’s lawyer reportedly stated that there were “no allegations of violence against the police or property damage” during the activities.[23] Participants at the education equality activities, for example, have described their activities as peaceful.[24] In an August 2013 analysis of the scope of the “crime of gathering a crowd to disturb social order” (CL, arts. 290 and 291), a constitutional scholar at Beijing University argued that “[i]f citizens gather together merely to articulate a particular demand and do not attack government offices, or negatively affect other people’s work or daily life in any other way, then they should be allowed to speak their minds.”[25] The Global Times, a Chinese state-run media outlet, described Xu and others like him in an August 2013 editorial as individuals engaged in “confrontational” activities.[26] The editorial suggests that such individuals play a role in the “new society,” but “pose a danger to the current social governance system and long-term social stability.”[27]

 

Xu’s Background in Legal and Citizen Rights Advocacy

Due to Xu’s involvement in legal advocacy for more than a decade, his case has garnered considerable Chinese[28] and international attention.[29] A law lecturer at the Beijing Post and Telecommunications University, Xu gained distinction for his work as an independently elected People’s Congress deputy for the Haidian district of Beijing,[30] and his advocacy efforts through the Open Constitution Initiative, a non-governmental legal research and aid organization that government officials shut down in 2009 for alleged tax evasion.[31] His joint efforts in 2003 with several other young scholars reportedly influenced the government’s decision to abolish “custody and repatriation,” an extrajudicial form of arbitrary detention that had led to human rights violations and at least one case of a beating death in detention.[32] In 2012, he and several others initiated the New Citizens’ Movement to call for social justice, rule of law, and citizen rights.[33]

Other cases of individuals awaiting sentencing or trial[34] on similar charges linked to their advocacy for education equality or for anticorruption and transparency advocacy activities, and who were mentioned in Xu’s indictment, include Ding Jiaxi, Sun Hanhui, Zhang Baocheng, Yuan Dong, Ma Xinli, and Zhao Changqing.

For further information on Xu Zhiyong’s detention and arrest, see the Commission analysis of August 1, 2013, “Officials Detain Xu Zhiyong Amidst a Crackdown on Individuals Calling for Greater Government Accountability.”

 

 

 



[1] Andrew Jacobs, “Supporters Protest as China Puts Rights Advocate on Trial,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 22 January 14.  (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/supporters-protest-as-china-puts-rights-advocate-on-trial/?ref=world)

[2] “Indictment [of Xu Zhiyong] by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch. 2013, No. 306” [Beijingshi renmin jianchayuan di’yi fen yuan qisushu, 2013, 306 hao], 13 December 13, reprinted in Sina Weibo, reprinted in China Digital Times, 16 December 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2013/12/%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E6%A3%80%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86%E9%99%A2%E5%AF%B9%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8%E7%9A%84%E8%B5%B7%E8%AF%89%E4%B9%A6%EF%BC%88%E5%9B%BE%EF%BC%89/) For an English translation of the Indictment, see “Indictment of Xu Zhiyong by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch,” 13 December 13, translation printed in Human Rights in China, 21 December 13. (https://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/xu-zhiyongs-indictment)

[3] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “Travesty of Justice—Beijing’s Show Trials of Civil Society Leaders Xu Zhiyong, Zhao Changqing, & Others, 23 January 14. (https://chrdnet.com/2014/01/travesty-of-justice-beijings-show-trials-of-civil-society-leaders-xu-zhiyong-zhao-changqing-others/)

[4] Chris Buckley, “Chinese Rights Advocate Releases Statement on Goals,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 23 January 14. (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/chinese-rights-advocate-releases-statement-on-goals/) Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “Travesty of Justice—Beijing’s Show Trials of Civil Society Leaders Xu Zhiyong, Zhao Changqing, & Others, 23 January 14. (https://chrdnet.com/2014/01/travesty-of-justice-beijings-show-trials-of-civil-society-leaders-xu-zhiyong-zhao-changqing-others/)

[5] Chris Buckley, “Trial Begins Next Week for Human Rights Activist in China,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 17 January 14. (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/world/asia/trial-set-for-prominent-rights-activist-in-china.html?hp)

[6] “Indictment [of Xu Zhiyong] by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch. 2013, No. 306” [Beijingshi renmin jianchayuan di’yi fen yuan qisushu, 2013, 306 hao], 13 December 13, reprinted in Sina Weibo, reprinted in China Digital Times, 16 December 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2013/12/%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E6%A3%80%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86%E9%99%A2%E5%AF%B9%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8%E7%9A%84%E8%B5%B7%E8%AF%89%E4%B9%A6%EF%BC%88%E5%9B%BE%EF%BC%89/) For an English translation of the Indictment, see “Indictment of Xu Zhiyong by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch,” 13 December 13, translation printed in China Change, 21 December 13. (https://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/xu-zhiyongs-indictment) PRC Criminal Law [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo xingfa], enacted 1 July 79, amended 14 March 97, effective 1 October 97, amended 25 December 99, 31 August 01, 29 December 01, 28 December 02, 28 February 05, 29 June 06, 28 February 09, 25 February 11, art. 291.

[7] Chris Buckley, “Trial Begins Next Week for Human Rights Activist in China,” New York Times, 17 January 14. (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/world/asia/trial-set-for-prominent-rights-activist-in-china.html?hp)

[8] “Xu Zhiyong: On the New Citizens’ Movement,” Xu Zhiyong’s blog, 12 April 13, translated and reprinted in China Digital Times, 13 May 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/05/xu-zhiyong-on-the-new-citizens-movement/)  Keith J. Hand, “The Sun Zhigang Incident and Evolving Forms of Citizen Action in the People’s Republic of China,” Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 25, 2006, 114–95.

[9] “Xu Zhiyong: On the New Citizens’ Movement,” Xu Zhiyong’s blog, 12 April 13, translated and reprinted in China Digital Times, 13 May 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/05/xu-zhiyong-on-the-new-citizens-movement/

[10] “Chinese Lawyer Xu Zhiyong Arrested,” Associated Press, reprinted in Guardian, 17 July 13. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/17/china-lawyer-xu-zhiyong-arrested)

[11] “Xu Zhiyong’s ‘Talks’ with Beijing’s Public Security Chief Three Weeks Before His Detention, Parts 1–3,” Xu Zhiyong’s personal blog, reprinted in Boxun, 30 June 13. (https://blog.boxun.com/hero/201307/lihuapingwenji/102_1.shtml) For the English translation, see “Xu Zhiyong’s ‘Talks’ with Beijing’s Public Security Chief Three Weeks Before His Detention, Parts 1-3,” 30 June 13, translation printed in China Change, 22 July 13. (https://chinachange.org/2013/07/22/xu-zhiyongs-talks-with-beijings-public-security-chief-three-weeks-before-his-detention-1/)  

[12] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “China: End Escalating Crackdown Criminalizing Peaceful Assembly and Free Expression,” updated 17 July 13. (https://chrdnet.com/2013/07/china-end-escalating-crackdown-criminalizing-peaceful-assembly-and-free-expression/)

[13] Human Rights in China, “Xu Zhiyong’s Lawyer Accuses Police and Detention Center of Rights Violations,” HRIC Bulletin, 22 July 13. (https://www.hrichina.org/en/content/6841)

[14] Chris Buckley, “Formal Arrest of Advocate Is Approved by China,” New York Times, 23 August 13. (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/world/asia/chinese-rights-advocate-is-formally-arrested.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1389982293-SSHODPsT7Puvq0eGQK9Byw)

[15] “Beijing Municipal Public Security Recommendation for Indictment [of Xu Zhiyong] 2013, No. 99” [Beijingshi gong’anju qisu yijianshu, 2013, 99 hao], reprinted in China Free Press, 8 December 13. (https://www.canyu.org/n82343c6.aspx) For an English translation of the Public Security Recommendation, see “A Translation of Beijing Police’s Recommendation to Indict Xu Zhiyong for Asset Disclosure and Equal Education Right Campaigns,” 4 December 13, translation printed in China Change. (https://chinachange.org/2013/12/11/a-translation-of-beijing-polices-recommendation-to-indict-xu-zhiyong-for-asset-disclosure-and-equal-education-right-campaigns/comment-page-1/)

[16] “Indictment [of Xu Zhiyong] by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch. 2013, No. 306” [Beijingshi renmin jianchayuan di’yi fen yuan qisushu, 2013, 306 hao], 13 December 13, reprinted in Sina Weibo, reprinted in China Digital Times, 16 December 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2013/12/%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E6%A3%80%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86%E9%99%A2%E5%AF%B9%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8%E7%9A%84%E8%B5%B7%E8%AF%89%E4%B9%A6%EF%BC%88%E5%9B%BE%EF%BC%89/) For an English translation of the Indictment, see “Indictment of Xu Zhiyong by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch,” 13 December 13, translation printed in China Change, 21 December 13. (https://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/xu-zhiyongs-indictment)

[17] Josh Chin, “A New Tack in Criminal Prosecution of Chinese Activists,” Wall Street Journal China Real Time Report, 10 December 13. (https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/12/10/a-new-tack-in-criminal-prosecution-of-chinese-activists/)

[18] “Lawyers Unhappy ‘New Citizens’ Movement’ Cases Have Been Split Up, Education Equality Group Testifies Xu Zhiyong Is Not Guilty” [Lushi buman “xin gongmin yundong” xilie anjian bei chaifen, jiaoyu pingquan tuanti zuozheng xu zhiyong wuzui], Radio Free Asia, 23 December 13. (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sy1-12232013105145.html) Cao Guoxing, “At Xu Zhiyong’s Pre-Trial Hearing, Lawyer Again Makes Appeal That Same Cases Be Heard Together” [Xu zhiyong an tingqian huiyi lushi zai huyu bing’an shenli], Radio France Internationale, 17 January 14. (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20140117-%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8%E6%A1%88%E5%BA%AD%E5%89%8D%E4%BC%9A%E8%AE%AE-%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E7%BB%A7%E7%BB%AD%E5%91%BC%E5%90%81%E5%B9%B6%E6%A1%88%E5%AE%A1%E7%90%86)

[19] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “Court in Xu Zhiyong's Pre-Trial Hearing Heavily Guarded, Many Petitioners and Supporters Detained” [Xu zhiyong an ting’qian huiyi fayuanjiebei senyan, duoming fangmin shengyuan beizhua], 17 January 14. (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2014/01/blog-post_6337.html)

[20] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “Travesty of Justice—Beijing’s Show Trials of Civil Society Leaders Xu Zhiyong, Zhao Changqing, & Others, 23 January 14. (https://chrdnet.com/2014/01/travesty-of-justice-beijings-show-trials-of-civil-society-leaders-xu-zhiyong-zhao-changqing-others/)

[21] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “China: End Escalating Crackdown Criminalizing Peaceful Assembly and Free Expression,” 17 July 13. (https://chrdnet.com/2013/07/china-end-escalating-crackdown-criminalizing-peaceful-assembly-and-free-expression/) Human Rights Watch, “Drop Charges Against Prominent Activist,” 26 December 13. (https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/12/25/china-drop-charges-against-prominent-activist) Malcolm Moore, “Xu Zhiyong Trial: Arrests Won’t Stop Change, Fellow Activist Says,” Telegraph, 17 January 14. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10579267/Xu-Zhiyong-trial-arrests-wont-stop-change-fellow-activist-says.html) Xiao Shu, “Why the World Needs To Roar Around the New Citizens’ Movement” [Xin gongmin yundong’an xuyao quan shijie weiguan], Asia Weekly, 22 December 13, translated and reprinted in China Change, 22 December 13. (https://chinachange.org/2013/12/22/why-the-world-needs-to-roar-around-the-new-citizens-movement-trials/)

[22] “Indictment [of Xu Zhiyong] by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch. 2013, No. 306” [Beijingshi renmin jianchayuan di’yi fen yuan qisushu, 2013, 306 hao], 13 December 13, reprinted in Sina Weibo, reprinted in China Digital Times, 16 December 13. (https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/2013/12/%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E5%B8%82%E6%A3%80%E4%B8%80%E5%88%86%E9%99%A2%E5%AF%B9%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8%E7%9A%84%E8%B5%B7%E8%AF%89%E4%B9%A6%EF%BC%88%E5%9B%BE%EF%BC%89/) For an English translation of the Indictment, see “Indictment of Xu Zhiyong by Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate, No. 1 Branch,” 13 December 13, translation printed in China Change, 21 December 13. (https://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/xu-zhiyongs-indictment)

[23] Human Rights Watch, “Drop Charges Against Prominent Activist,” 26 December 13. (https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/12/25/china-drop-charges-against-prominent-activist)

[24] Volunteers of the Education Fairness Campaign, “A Joint Statement by Volunteers of the Education Fairness Campaign” [Jiaoyu gongping zhiyuanzhe lianhe shengming], translated and reprinted in China Change, 25 December 13. (https://chinachange.org/2013/12/26/a-joint-statement-by-volunteers-of-the-education-fairness-campaign/)

[25] Zhang Qianfan, “How To Build A Peaceful China” [Zhang qianfan: ruhe jianshe ping’an zhongguo], Caijing, reprinted in 21st Century, 13 August 13. (https://www.21ccom.net/articles/zgyj/fzyj/article_2013081389734.html) For an English translation of Zhang’s essay, see Zhang Qianfan, “How To Build a Peaceful China,” Caijing, 11 August 13, in Dui Hua Foundation, “Government Notice Fuels Crackdown on Assembly as Subversion,” Dui Hua Human Rights Journal, 19 August 13. (https://www.duihuahrjournal.org/2013/08/government-notice-fuels-crackdown-on.html)

[26] “Legal Basis Needed for Dissenting Voices,” Global Times, 18 August 13. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/804702.shtml

[27] Ibid.

[28] Volunteers of the Education Fairness Campaign, “A Joint Statement by Volunteers of the Education Fairness Campaign” [Jiaoyu gongping zhiyuanzhe lianhe shengming], translated and reprinted in China Change, 25 December 13. (https://chinachange.org/2013/12/26/a-joint-statement-by-volunteers-of-the-education-fairness-campaign/) “Official Media Response to the Arrest of ‘New Citizens’ Movement’ Participants, Calls from All Walks of Life for Government Authorities To Release Them” [Guanmei hui’ying ‘xin gongmin yundong’ canyuzhe bei bu, gejie chixu huyu dangju fangren], Radio Free Asia, 19 August 13. (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/sy1-08192013103831.html) “Legal Basis Needed for Dissenting Voices,” Global Times, 18 August 13. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/804702.shtml)

[29] “China Sets Dissident Trial Date as EU Envoy Criticizes Rights Record,” Agence France Presse, reprinted in Korea Herald, 17 January 13. (https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140117000938&mod=skb) Gillian Wong, “China Indicts Law Activist Who Founded Civic Group,” Associated Press, 13 December 13.  (https://bigstory.ap.org/article/china-indicts-law-activist-who-founded-civic-group) Simon Denyer, “Chinese Prosecutors File Charges Against Leading Activist Xu Zhiyong,” Washington Post, 13 December 13. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-prosecutors-file-charges-against-leading-activist-xu-zhiyong/2013/12/13/9ee771a4-63e3-11e3-aa81-e1dab1360323_story.html)

[30] Liu Liu, “Xu Zhiyong: Destined To Fight for Social Justice” [Xingxia zhangyi xu zhiyong], Economic Observer, 13 November 08. (https://www.eeo.com.cn/observer/shijiao/2008/11/12/120096.shtml) Malcolm Moore, “Xu Zhiyong Trial: Arrests Won’t Stop Change, Fellow Activist Says,” Telegraph, 17 January 14. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10579267/Xu-Zhiyong-trial-arrests-wont-stop-change-fellow-activist-says.html)

[31] See Congressional-Executive Commission on China, “Beijing Think Tank Faults Domestic Policies, Issues for March 2008 Tibetan Rioting,” 6 August 09. (https://www.cecc.gov/publications/commission-analysis/beijing-think-tank-faults-domestic-policies-issues-for-march-2008)

[32] Keith J. Hand, “The Sun Zhigang Incident and Evolving Forms of Citizen Action in the People’s Republic of China,” Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 25, 2006, 114–95. Malcolm Moore, “Xu Zhiyong Trial: Arrests Won’t Stop Change, Fellow Activist Says,” Telegraph, 17 January 14. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10579267/Xu-Zhiyong-trial-arrests-wont-stop-change-fellow-activist-says.html)

[33] Xiao Shu, “Why the World Needs To Roar Around the New Citizens’ Movement” [Xin gongmin yundong’an xuyao quan shijie weiguan], Asia Weekly, 22 December 13, translated and reprinted in China Change, 22 December 13. (https://chinachange.org/2013/12/22/why-the-world-needs-to-roar-around-the-new-citizens-movement-trials/) Xu Zhiyong, “New Citizens’ Movement,” 29 May 12, translated and reprinted in China Change, 11 July 12. (https://chinachange.org/2012/07/11/china-needs-a-new-citizens-movement-xu-zhiyongs-%E8%AE%B8%E5%BF%97%E6%B0%B8-controversial-essay/)

[34] Chris Buckley, “In China, a Week Full of Trials Over Dissent,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 21 January 14. (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/in-china-a-week-full-of-trials-over-dissent/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=world&_r=0)