The United States has expressed concern over the arrest of Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei and has demanded information from the People's Republic of China (PRC) regarding his whereabouts. Lu Siwei was apprehended on July 28 in Vientiane, Laos, as he was about to board a train bound for Thailand with his family. According to Amnesty International, he was subsequently sent back to China and is being detained at the Xindu Detention Center in Sichuan.
Lu Siwei's family reported that he was arrested for traveling with fraudulent documents and has been denied access to legal representation. Prior to his arrest, his law license had been suspended by Chinese authorities. He had been actively working to support human rights defenders, including human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and poet Wang Zang.
Under Secretary Zeya from the United States expressed concern over the forced repatriation of Chinese human rights activists and lawyers like Lu Siwei. She called on the PRC to confirm Lu's location and well-being and enable him to access a lawyer of his own choosing.
Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party also condemned Lu Siwei's forced repatriation and called on the CCP to confirm his location, ensure his well-being, and grant him access to legal representation. They stated that these actions demonstrate the CCP's repressive tactics extending beyond China's borders and called for an immediate end to such practices.
The United States is urging the People's Republic of China to provide information about Lu Siwei and ensure his well-being and access to legal representation. The arrest of Lu Siwei highlights the ongoing concerns about human rights and the treatment of activists and lawyers in China.
