Translation: “Human Rights Defender Shen Aibin, Known for Rescuing Petitioners, Detained Again (Oct. 31, 2025)”
On October 31, Jiangsu-based dissident Shen Aibin, known for his repeated efforts to assist petitioners, was criminally detained by the Liangxi Branch of the Wuxi Municipal Public Security Bureau on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” He is currently being held at the Wuxi Detention Center.
On the afternoon of October 27, Shen accompanied petitioner Pu Xingdi to the Dongting Police Station of the Xishan Branch of the Wuxi Public Security Bureau to request a formal summons document. There, he was reportedly beaten by police officers and hospitalized due to his injuries. On the afternoon of October 30, Wuxi police raided Shen’s home and forcibly took him away.
Profile of Shen Aibin
Born on October 15, 1973, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, Shen is a veteran, a former member of the Chinese Communist Party, and former squad leader of the Urban Management Bureau in Xishan District, Wuxi. He later became a citizen journalist and human rights defender. Shen has been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for defending his own rights and for his involvement in rescuing petitioners from unlawful detention.
On June 23, 2013, Shen, along with Ding Hongfen, Shen Guodong, and over 20 others, launched an operation to rescue petitioners detained in a “black jail” at the Dongjiao Hotel in Wuxi, successfully freeing five individuals. Three days later, police took him from his home. On November 27, 2014, the Binhu District Court in Wuxi sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison for “intentional destruction of property.” During his imprisonment, Shen reportedly suffered multiple instances of torture.
On April 13, 2016, Shen was detained for 37 days on charges of “intentional injury” and later placed under residential surveillance. On August 23, 2016, shortly before the G20 Summit, he was administratively detained for 10 days for “stability maintenance.” Upon release, he was again detained on “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” charges. On May 27, 2017, the Binhu District Court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison on the same charge.
On June 24, 2021, Shen was detained again by the Liangxi Branch of the Wuxi police on the same charge and was released on bail on July 24.
On March 6, 2022, after drawing attention to the death of Jiangyin petitioner Mao Lihui, who was allegedly persecuted to death in a “black jail,” Shen was again detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” He was later placed under residential surveillance at a designated location by the Yixing police. On September 20, 2023, Shen was sentenced to 3 years in prison and released on April 30, 2025.
Less than half a year after his release, this long-persecuted human rights defender has been detained once again.
“The Six Heroes of the ‘Minsheng Party’ Heavily Sentenced for Forming a Party Aimed at Overthrowing the CCP”
In April 2024, Tang Gaofeng, Wang Wei, Zhou Dan, Wang Yifei, Liu Zhengang, and Dai Lu were sentenced by the Luzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Sichuan Province to prison terms ranging from three to twelve years for “subverting state power,” due to their involvement in forming the China Democratic Victory Party (hereafter “Minsheng Party”), which aimed to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dictatorship. This case represents a typical example in recent years of the CCP’s crackdown on organized anti-communist activity.
Tang Gaofeng, a retired worker from Sichuan Deyang Xinke Wood Industry Co., developed the idea of establishing a democratic political party in China and promoting a genuine constitutional democracy after being exposed to the political systems of Western democracies while working abroad in 2008. He named the proposed party the China Democratic Victory Party, drafted its program and constitution, and designed its emblem. From 2009, Tang expanded his network online and, together with like-minded, committed, and action-oriented individuals—Wang Yifei, Wang Wei, Liu Zhengang, Zhou Dan, and Dai Lu—began to organize the Minsheng Party.
In early October 2011, with Tang Gaofeng’s financial support, the first Central Committee of the Minsheng Party convened in Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan. Chaired by Tang, the meeting approved programmatic documents calling for the overthrow of CCP leadership and the transformation of the socialist system, and established the organizational structure: Tang Gaofeng as Chairman, Wang Wei as Vice Chairman, and the other members as Ministers of Organization, Military Affairs, and Agriculture.
Afterward, Minsheng Party members sought registration abroad, recruited members, and promoted anti-CCP ideas. During this period, Wang Wei traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan to seek political and financial support and attempted party registration, but without success. Wang Yifei, Liu Zhengang, and Zhou Dan, funded by Tang, used foreign social media platforms and websites such as Facebook and Twitter to publicize the establishment of the Minsheng Party and its political program, calling for the overthrow of the CCP dictatorship.
From 2011 to 2015, Wang Yifei created a Minsheng Party column on Boxun.com, publishing multiple articles including the “Minsheng Party Political Charter,” the “Letter to the People of China,” and opening and closing remarks of the first Central Committee. In April 2013, Wang Yifei posted anti-CCP slogans in Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, and uploaded photos to the Minsheng Party website.
In 2014, Dai Lu joined the Minsheng Party through Zhou Dan and, with Tang’s support, actively recruited new members.
By the end of 2015, Tang Gaofeng had contributed a total of 406,300 RMB to the Minsheng Party. From 2016, Tang ceased funding and party-related activities.
Between May and September 2022, authorities in Luzhou, Sichuan, suddenly arrested more than ten Minsheng Party members, in what became known as the Luzhou 2022 Mass Arrest Case. In April 2024, the Luzhou Intermediate Court sentenced Tang Gaofeng, Wang Wei, Wang Yifei, Zhou Dan, Liu Zhengang, and Dai Lu to prison terms ranging from 3 to 12 years. In December of the same year, the Sichuan High Court upheld the original verdicts.
Profiles of the Six Heroes
Tang Gaofeng: Male, aliases “Tang Minfu,” “Tang Fumin,” born November 16, 1955, Nanchong, Sichuan, junior high education, retired worker of Deyang Xinke Wood Industry Co. Arrested May 18, 2022; in 2024, sentenced to 12 years for “subverting state power,” deprived of political rights for 4 years, fined 500,000 RMB; currently imprisoned in Sichuan.
Wang Wei: Male, alias “Li Yi,” born October 24, 1967, Harbin, Heilongjiang, resident of Xindu District, Chengdu, Sichuan. Arrested May 17, 2022; sentenced in 2024 to 8 years, deprived of political rights for 3 years, fined 100,000 RMB; currently imprisoned in Sichuan.
Wang Yifei: Male, aliases “Li Zhongtai,” “Long Feiteng,” “Zhao Nan,” online name “Yifei Shangtian,” born June 29, 1985, Hekou County, Hunan, junior high education, resident of Nanchang, Jiangxi (alias Xiao Li), founder of the secret online pro-democracy group “Xinghua Society.” Previously sentenced to 2 years in 2019 for “provoking trouble” for posting anti-CCP slogans in Nanchang and Ganzhou. Arrested again May 18, 2022; sentenced in 2024 to 7 years 6 months, deprived of political rights for 3 years, fined 80,000 RMB; currently imprisoned in Sichuan.
Zhou Dan: Male, formerly Zhou Xuan, born November 18, 1978, Yuechi County, Sichuan, high school education. Arrested August 25, 2022; sentenced in 2024 to 6 years, deprived of political rights for 3 years, fined 50,000 RMB; currently imprisoned in Sichuan.
Liu Zhengang: Male, aliases “Nangong Daoren,” “Liu Zide,” born September 9, 1987, Tangyin County, Henan, technical school education, resident of Wujiang District, Suzhou, Jiangsu. Arrested May 19, 2022; sentenced in 2024 to 5 years 6 months, deprived of political rights for 2 years, fined 40,000 RMB; currently serving in Sichuan Chuan Zhong Prison, Block Six (postal code 637100).
Dai Lu: Male, born February 8, 1987, Jiangjin District, Chongqing, technical school education. Arrested May 19, 2022; sentenced in 2024 to 3 years, deprived of political rights for 1 year, fined 20,000 RMB. Previously imprisoned in Deyang Prison, now released after serving sentence.
(Information compiled from Rights Defense Net and Minsheng Observation Net.)