The Facts
Two prominent Chinese human rights lawyers, Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi of the civil rights group New Citizens' Movement, were reportedly convicted of "subversion of state power" and sentenced to over a decade in prison, according to one of the men's wives. However, a PRC court official said it was not aware of the cases.
After a closed-door trial, Xu — who reportedly called for Pres. Xi Jinping to step down over his handling of COVID — was jailed for 14 years. According to Ding's wife, her husband was "jailed for 12 years and deprived of political rights for three years."
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi are among the most courageous human rights lawyers in all of China, which is why they have been fiercely targeted by the PRC. As these men have risked their lives and well-being to inspire the world to fight authoritarianism wherever it lifts its head, it is now up to the international community — governments and NGOs alike — to return the favor and fight for their freedom.
Pro-China narrative
Though it has painted China as a human rights antagonist for decades, the world needs to understand that the US is one of the worst offenders of human rights violations. At least 80 UN nations see right through the hegemonic propaganda, and Washington can no longer inflict its will on the global community.
