HONG KONG (AP) – A Chinese dissident named Dong Guangping endured a perilous journey to escape his home country, involving a 40-hour voyage on a dinghy equipped with a dying phone, followed by detention in South Korea. After many years of longing for freedom, Dong finally arrived in Canada late last week, marking a significant milestone in his quest for asylum. This journey was the culmination of more than a decade of attempts to flee China in search of a better life.
Throughout his life, Dong has faced significant repression for his pro-democracy activism, including multiple imprisonments for commemorating the 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square protestors. In an online interview from Toronto, Dong described the oppressive environment in China, stating, “It’s like living in a cage. Very suffocating,” emphasizing the severe restrictions on freedom of expression that prevail in his homeland. After his release from prison, at age 68, he found himself unable to access retirement benefits, renew his passport, or escape constant surveillance by police.
Dong’s previous escape attempts were fraught with challenges. He tried to flee in 2015 to Thailand, only to be deported back to China, and made additional attempts in 2019 and 2020 that ended similarly after escaping to a Taiwanese island and Vietnam, respectively. Each return to China resulted in imprisonment. After multiple failures, last month, Dong made a determined decision to try again, remarking, “No point fearing death.”
On the early morning of May 24, 2023, Dong set off from Weihai, China, in a gray rubber dinghy powered by an engine, hopeful about reaching Japan. However, the following day brought dense fog, and his reliance on his phone for GPS navigation became a source of panic when it ran low on battery. His power bank also failed him, forcing him to change his destination to South Korea. Despite the fear of capsizing due to changing sea conditions, Dong pressed on, motivated by his harrowing living conditions in China.
As he neared South Korean waters, Dong spotted distant lights and set his sights on them, only to have the first vessel pass him by without assistance. Luckily, he subsequently encountered a fishing boat that took him onboard and contacted the authorities. However, upon his arrival, the South Korean Coast Guard detained him for reportedly violating immigration laws. A court ultimately declined to authorize his arrest, leading to his transfer to a refugee center in Incheon.
After settling in the refugee center, Dong received unexpected news when the United Nations refugee agency reached out to him via a video call. After an assessment, he learned that the Canadian diplomatic mission was involved, and not long after, he boarded a flight to Toronto. Expressing his disbelief, he said, “I feel very surprised, extremely surprised. It’s like still in a dream. It’s very fast,” acknowledging the swift assistance he received.
Upon arriving in Toronto, Dong felt an overwhelming sense of freedom for the first time in over a decade and expressed his excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead. He is hopeful of finding work in Canada, perhaps as a truck driver or an Uber driver. Despite his newfound freedom, he continues to grapple with painful memories of his deportations from Thailand and Vietnam, where he was forcibly returned to China. Dong plans to seek legal advice to explore the possibility of suing both countries for the hardships he endured.
Though he is now in Canada, Dong remains committed to advocating for democracy in China. Reflecting on his activism dating back to the late 1990s, he has faced significant risks, including imprisonment for inciting subversion of state power and participation in memorials for Tiananmen victims. He remains resolute, stating, “My ultimate goal is for China to achieve constitutional democracy.” Dong’s journey presents a poignant chapter in the ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights in China.
