Civil Society

Whither China? — Xu Zhiyong’s Letter of Appeal November 30, 2023 In August, while waiting for appeal, Dr. Xu Zhiyong wrote the following statement (Chinese original), not so much to the court as to his compatriots. In June, he and Ding…

Shanghai Halloween 2023 November 11, 2023 [youtube…

On the Lack of a Fair Judiciary in China: Reflections of a Criminal Defense Lawyer (Two) Li Jinxing, September 28, 2023 Li Jinxing (李金星), arguably one of the most prominent defense lawyers in today’s China, has dedicated much of his…

What Are the ‘Crimes’ of Journalist and MeToo Activist Huang Xueqin, According to Her Indictment? China Change, September 24, 2023 It took three whole years of secret detention for journalist Huang Xueqin (黄雪琴) and labor activist Wang…

‘Not a Single Penny’: Why One Overseas Chinese Won’t Donate to ‘Disaster Relief’ Efforts in China Wuyuesanren, August 5, 2023 Wuyuesanren (五岳散人), or Yao Bo (姚博), was a well-known Chinese journalist, a Weibo “Big V” with a large number of…

An Interview With Ai Weiwei, Part Two: Ruins. Rebars. Water Lilies. ‘Straight’. Photo: The New York Times. (Continued from Part One: The Year 2008) Ruins. Rebars. Water Lilies. YC: Many details have left a deep impression on me from…

An Interview With Ai Weiwei, Part One: The Year 2008 I interviewed Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei in May in Portugal. It was my first meeting with him, and as many Chinese activists do, I called him by his nickname “Aunt Ai”…

This past week, a seemingly innocuous TikTok featuring a young woman preparing kielbasa sausage and mac-n-cheese for her family went viral, racking up millions of views across multiple social media platforms. “Watch out, baby,” the…

‘A democratic China must be realized in our time, we cannot saddle the next generation with this duty’ – Xu Zhiyong’s Court Statement Xu Zhiyong, April 9, 2023 Dr. Xu Zhiyong (许志永) is no stranger to those who have followed the emergence…

Authoritarianism Shall Perish – Ding Jiaxi’s Court Statement Ding Jiaxi, April 9, 2023 After a decade-long successful career as a successful commercial lawyer in Beijing, Ding Jiaxi (丁家喜) joined the New Citizens Movement in 2011 led by…