Friday, February 14, 2025

Escape from China: Man Makes Daring Journey Riding Jet Ski

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A China dissident, suspected to be a jet ski rider seeking refuge, has been detained upon arriving on the shores of South Korea. The individual, believed to be in his 30s, embarked on a daring journey across the Yellow Sea, traversing approximately 200 miles from China’s Shandong region to South Korea’s coast. Carrying a life vest, a helmet, navigational tools, binoculars, and five fuel containers tied to his jet ski, he attempted to breach immigration laws when he arrived in the western port city of Incheon on August 16.

Authorities were alerted to the presence of the jet ski after it became stuck in the Incheon area. The South Korean coast guard promptly intervened, rescuing the individual from the muddy shore. This wasn’t his first visit to the region, as he had been to Incheon multiple times before.

The man’s identity remains undisclosed by South Korean officials, who have referred to him as “Mr. A.” After being handed over to Incheon police authorities, information surfaced linking him to Kwon Pyong, a Chinese dissident, as revealed by pro-democracy activist Lee Dae-seon. Kwon had been seeking an escape from China since the crackdown on pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong in 2019.

Front Line Defenders, a global NGO dedicated to safeguarding human rights activists, has profiled Kwon on their website, highlighting his advocacy for detained lawyers and human rights defenders in China. Kwon’s history includes an 18-month imprisonment for “inciting subversion of state power.” Notably, his incarceration was supported by evidence that included a photograph of him wearing a T-shirt critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping, featuring the term “Xitler.”

China

Lee Dae-seon, the activist who identified Kwon, disclosed that he had been in contact with Kwon prior to his apprehension. Kwon had expressed readiness to make his way to South Korea, although the details of his plan were unclear. Lee, who visited Kwon after his detention, is facilitating legal assistance for seeking refugee status in South Korea or potentially relocating to an English-speaking third country.

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The incident sheds light on China’s increasing use of exit bans to prevent individuals from leaving the country. Kwon’s parents also traveled to South Korea in response to the situation, sharing that Chinese authorities had prohibited him from leaving China for nearly a century, forcing him to flee for his safety. Kwon, who holds a degree in aerodynamics from Iowa State University, purchased the jet ski shortly before his departure from Shandong.

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