Chinese writer Chen Shuqing is serving a sentence of 10 years and six months on charges of subverting state power. Hangzhou police arrested Chen in September 2014.
Chen, a freelance writer and member of the Democracy Party of China and the Independent Chinese PEN Center, was detained on September 11, 2014, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and his home was raided by agents from the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau. He had written several articles for the overseas Chinese-language website Boxun about pro-democracy advocates, many of whom were in the hospital or detention.
On June 17, 2016, a Hangzhou court sentenced Chen to 10 years and six months in prison for "subversion of state power." Chen’s former lawyer, Fu Yonggang, told reporters the verdict read, "Chen Shuqing published 14 articles on overseas websites Boxun and Canyu," and "through aforementioned proclamations, statements and articles, Chen Shuqing attacked and smeared the state power and the socialist system."
On November 1, 2016, the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court rejected Chen’s appeal and maintained the previous ruling, according to a copy of the verdict circulated online.
Chen was previously placed under criminal detention on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power on September 14, 2006. On August 16, 2007, he was sentenced by the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court to four years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights for subversion of state power. After the original verdict was upheld by the appellate court, Chen was jailed at Qiaosi prison in Hangzhou. He was released on September 13, 2010, after serving his term.
Chen’s wife, Zhang Donghong, told CPJ in 2023 that she is allowed to visit Chen every three months and call him once a month.
In October 2023, CPJ sent a message to the Hangzhou People’s Procuratorate but did not receive any response.