A Chinese court has sentenced a Taiwanese publishing house editor to three years in prison, accusing him of inciting separatism, a government representative announced on Wednesday. The development has sparked concerns about the broader implications of issuing critical literature on the Chinese government—even from outside the mainland.
The editor, Li Yanhe, a Chinese national who had been residing in Taiwan, was apprehended two years back during a visit to China, as per reports from Taiwanese media. Recently, it was disclosed that a Shanghai court had delivered his verdict, though details had been scarce until now.
In addition to the prison time, Li received a fine of 50,000 yuan (approximately $6,900), according to Chen Binhua, a spokesperson from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office. During the proceedings, Li admitted guilt and chose not to contest the charges, the spokesperson noted.
Historically, Taiwan and China parted ways in 1949 following a civil war that resulted in the Communist Party’s rule in Beijing. China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, indicating that the island is destined to fall under its governance eventually. Consequently, Beijing is averse to what it perceives as independence-driven actions by Taiwan, which, while self-governed, has not claimed outright independence.
To date, Chinese officials have not elaborated on specific actions that led to Li’s charge of instigating separatism. The publishing house Li was associated with, Gusa Publishing, is known for producing literature covering sensitive subjects often prohibited in China. It features topics such as governmental corruption and authoritarianism, and historical accounts like the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Taiwanese officials recently criticized Li’s detention, perceiving it as an effort to stifle Taiwan’s publishing, academic, and cultural sectors, as reported by Taiwan’s Central News Agency. Gusa Publishing conveyed their dismay and confusion over the charges on social media, describing Li as merely a publisher.
The incident has resonated within the Chinese-language publishing community, stirring unease about potential publishing implications. According to Yu Miao, proprietor of a Chinese bookstore in Washington, D.C., the situation could deter future publication of certain materials. Yu, who moved his bookstore operations to Washington after encountering challenges in Shanghai, reflected on the restrictive environment, noting the risks of publishing China-related books, even in Taiwan and abroad.
This is not the first instance of Chinese authorities targeting individuals tied to critical publications. In 2015, Chinese officials detained five booksellers based in Hong Kong, including individuals holding Swedish and British citizenship. These cases have underscored China’s rigorous approach toward suppressing political dissent, reaching beyond the mainland into territories like Hong Kong.