Chongqing private entrepreneur Li Huaiqing, sentenced to 20 years, has been confined to his cell for long periods in prison and is allowed little time outdoors

(Rights Defense Network Information Center report) On June 15, 2026, this outlet learned: Li Huaiqing, a Chongqing private entrepreneur sentenced to 20 years, has been confined to his cell for long periods in prison and is allowed little time outdoors.

Li Huaiqing's wife, Bao Yan, recently issued a public appeal calling on all sectors of society to continue paying attention to Li Huaiqing's current situation!

The public appeal is as follows:

Yesterday, my family member Li Huaiqing called from Guizhou Xingyi Prison, reporting that he has long been confined to his cell and is allowed little time outdoors! Food prices are high and there appear to be issues involving expired products, and he has been subjected to consumption restrictions different from those imposed on other inmates. Everyone is equal before the law, and the legitimate rights and interests of prisoners should likewise be protected. I strongly urge Guizhou Xingyi Prison and the relevant departments to respond publicly and investigate and verify the relevant circumstances, and to stop any unfair treatment! I call on all sectors of society to continue paying attention to Li Huaiqing's situation.

On January 31, 2018, Chongqing private entrepreneur and billionaire Li Huaiqing was suddenly criminally detained by Chongqing police on the charge of being "involved in organized crime." His wife, children and company employees were also implicated and arrested. They were released only after being subjected to hours of inexplicable interrogation, threats and intimidation; in February of the same year, the company under his name, the assets and accounts of his wife Bao Yan and his biological sister, who was completely unrelated to the case (including cash and property worth a total of more than 100 million yuan), were all frozen by Chongqing police in the name of "cracking down on organized crime";

His charges were subsequently changed by the Chongqing People's Procuratorate to suspected "subversion of state power," with prosecutors alleging that between October 2017 and January 2018 he had on seven occasions "incited subversion of state power through such means as spreading rumors and defamation" on WeChat, including forwarding an article stating that the "Red Fourth Front Army killed one million people in Sichuan," as well as an audio recording containing terms such as "moral resistance" and "violent revolution," which constituted illegal conduct; on April 24, 2018, his charge was consequently changed from "involvement in organized crime" to "subversion of state power";

During his nearly two years in detention, neither his lawyers nor his family members ever received an arrest notice or document explaining that he was suspected of "inciting subversion of state power"; Li Huaiqing's case involving suspected incitement to subvert state power was subsequently heard at the Chongqing First Intermediate People's Court on June 8, 2020, without a verdict being issued. Li Huaiqing is currently being held at the Jiangbei District Detention Center in Chongqing. On November 20, 2020, Chongqing private entrepreneur Li Huaiqing was sentenced by the Qing First Intermediate People's Court to 20 years in prison on four charges: inciting subversion of state power, fraud, extortion and illegal detention. He was subsequently held at Liupanshui Prison in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province. In May 2024, he was transferred to Xingyi Prison in Guizhou Province. He is currently being held at Xingyi Prison in Guizhou Province. Address: Li Huaiqing, No. 2 Subdivision, Prison Area 2, No. 9 attached to P.O. Box 00934, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province (Postal Code 562400)

Biography of Li Huaiqing: Born on April 29, 1966, a native of Chongqing, a demobilized military serviceman, a volunteer with "Handy Public Welfare," owner of Chongqing Fuhua Pawn Company, private entrepreneur, and political prisoner in China.

Because of his generous and justice-minded character, he paid long-term attention to and provided assistance to disadvantaged groups; he was deeply loved and welcomed by disadvantaged groups because he had quietly supported impoverished children in the Daliang Mountains region and former comrades-in-arms from financially difficult families for many years, actively participated in the "Great Love Removes Dust" campaign to assist fellow workers suffering from pneumoconiosis, and donated nearly 300,000 yuan for these efforts, without seeking anything in return;

On January 31, 2018, he was suddenly criminally detained by Chongqing police on a "black society" charge; his wife, children and company employees were also implicated and arrested, and were released only after being subjected to several hours of inexplicable interrogation, threats and intimidation; in February of the same year, the company under his name, the assets and accounts of his wife Bao Yan and his biological sister, who was completely unrelated to the case (including cash and property worth a total of more than 100 million yuan), were all frozen by Chongqing police in the name of "cracking down on organized crime";

His charges were subsequently changed by the Chongqing People's Procuratorate to suspected "incitement to subvert state power," with prosecutors alleging that between October 2017 and January 2018 he had on seven occasions "incited subversion of state power through such means as spreading rumors and defamation" on WeChat, including forwarding an article stating that the "Red Fourth Front Army killed one million people in Sichuan," as well as an audio recording containing terms such as "moral resistance" and "violent revolution," which constituted illegal conduct; on April 24, 2018, his charge was consequently changed from "involvement in organized crime" to "subversion of state power";

During his nearly two years in detention, neither his lawyers nor his family members ever received an arrest notice or document explaining that he was suspected of "inciting subversion of state power"; Li Huaiqing's case involving suspected incitement to subvert state power was subsequently heard at the Chongqing First Intermediate People's Court on June 8, 2020, without a verdict being issued. Li Huaiqing is currently being held at the Jiangbei District Detention Center in Chongqing. On November 20, 2020, Chongqing private entrepreneur Li Huaiqing was sentenced by the Qing First Intermediate People's Court to 20 years in prison on four charges: inciting subversion of state power, fraud, extortion and illegal detention. He was subsequently held at Liupanshui Prison in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province. In May 2024, he was transferred to Xingyi Prison in Guizhou Province. He is currently being held at Xingyi Prison in Guizhou Province. Address: Li Huaiqing, No. 2 Subdivision, Prison Area 2, No. 9 attached to P.O. Box 00934, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province (Postal Code 562400)

This outlet will continue to follow Mr. Li Huaiqing's circumstances in prison.