Pro-democracy leader Wang Bingzhang, sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCP and detained for 24 years, is still alive!

(Rights Defense Network Information Center report) On May 21, 2026, this outlet learned that pro-democracy leader Wang Bingzhang, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCP and has been detained for 24 years, is still alive!

Recently, Wang Bingwu, Wang Bingzhang’s younger brother, reported: “Wang Bingzhang is still alive! The family visited Wang Bingzhang in prison yesterday. At 78, he did not look very well. He has aged considerably. The prison doctor told the family that his problems are age-related illnesses and that he is at risk of a stroke. He also has prostate disease; his dermatitis has improved somewhat, and he also has problems with his spleen. He refuses to undergo prostate surgery. When the family saw him, his lower back seemed to be in very poor condition, and he walked very slowly. They had to support him, and he showed symptoms of a herniated disc.” “We also made inquiries about the prison’s situation. An officer said that those serving life sentences cannot receive medical parole; first, the sentence must be reduced, and then an application can be made. A sentence reduction requires him to admit his own mistakes. The family also mentioned the Wang family’s cancer-related genetic issues and hoped that the authorities would take them seriously. We also thank the prison authorities for their care of Bingzhang!”

Wang Bingzhang’s biography: Born on December 30, 1947, he is from Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province; a Christian; a U.S. permanent resident; a democratic dissident; spokesperson for the China Democratic Justice Party; adviser to the Overseas Joint Headquarters of the China Democratic Party; popularly known in China as “the first person in China’s overseas democracy movement”; and a political prisoner held in China.

In 1982, he founded the magazine China Spring in the United States; he was the founder and first chairman of the Chinese Alliance for Democracy. Before his arrest, he served as spokesperson for the China Democratic Justice Party and adviser to the Overseas Joint Headquarters of the China Democratic Party. At the end of June 2002, he was kidnapped in Vietnam by unidentified individuals, brought into China and arrested by the police. On February 10, 2003, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of “espionage and organizing and leading a terrorist organization.” It is reported that he was held in solitary confinement in prison for a long period, suffering severe physical persecution. During this time, he suffered one major stroke and two minor strokes, and developed severe allergies. During attacks, he experienced shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and continuous sneezing and coughing, causing substantial damage to his lungs and chest. He often felt that life was worse than death. In winter, he suffered from chilblains and bedsores, and a thin wall could not protect him from the bitter cold. His repeated requests to be transferred to another prison were denied, and his family’s requests to visit him were also rejected for years. It was not until February 28, 2014, that his younger brother Wang Bingwu was permitted to meet him for 10 minutes on behalf of the family, learning that he had been held in solitary confinement in a small cell inside the prison all along, knew nothing about information from the outside world, and was not allowed to exchange letters. On September 20, 2016, because his condition could suddenly become life-threatening, the prison authorities installed an alarm in his cell, saying that he should immediately trigger the alarm if he felt any discomfort; on October 15, 2021, during Canada’s Thanksgiving period, his biological younger brother living in Canada finally received a notice from the prison authorities in mainland China permitting a visit, which was said to indicate that his brother was still alive; on May 9, 2024, Freedom House, an international human rights organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., awarded him its 2024 Freedom Award in recognition of his efforts and sacrifices for democracy and freedom in China.

He is currently serving his sentence at Beijiang Prison in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province (Mailbox 6-9, No. 7 Lishi Town, Zhenjiang District, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province; postal code: 512140).