EDM 1197: Imprisonment of Dr Wang Bingzhang in China

That this House expresses profound concern regarding the continued imprisonment of Chinese dissident Dr Wang Bingzhang, founder of China Spring magazine, a leader of the overseas Chinese pro-democracy movement and a permanent resident of the United States; notes that Dr Wang Bingzhang was kidnapped while travelling in Vietnam in 2002, taken to the People’s Republic of China, and sentenced to life imprisonment for his activism; further notes that his trial, which lasted half a day, was closed to the public and he was denied the right to due process and a fair trial; further expresses concern that he has been held in solitary confinement throughout his 23 years in prison so far and that his physical and mental health have seriously declined; notes that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared that the detention of Wang Bingzhang is arbitrary, being in contravention of articles nine, 10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; further notes that Congressional Resolution 326 in the 108th United States Congress resolved that Dr Wang Bingzhang is being arbitrarily detained in the People’s Republic of China in violation of international law; and calls on the Government to consult and coordinate with the US government in efforts to seek the release of Dr Wang Bingzhang and his safe, immediate and unconditional return to the US from the People’s Republic of China.