Chinese language activist who mocked Xi Jinping flees to South Korea on jet ski, arrested

South Korea’s coastguard mentioned Tuesday it had arrested a Chinese language nationwide who attempted to go into the rustic after travelling by way of jet ski from China — a adventure of greater than 300 kilometres (186 miles).

Dressed in a existence vest and helmet, the person crossed the Yellow Sea on a 1800-cc jet ski from Shandong province, the use of binoculars and a compass to navigate and towing 5 barrels of gasoline.

“He refilled the petrol at the trip and dumped the empty barrels into the ocean,” the coastguard mentioned in a press unlock.

When his jet ski were given caught in tidal residences close to the western port town of Incheon’s cruise terminal, he referred to as for rescue.

The coastguard mentioned the person, who they didn’t establish, was once arrested after he “tried to smuggle himself into” Incheon.

Government mentioned they discovered no signal that the person was once a undercover agent.

The jet-ski escapee is Chinese language rights activist Kwon Pyong, in step with South Korea-based campaigner Lee Dae-seon of NGO Discussion China.

Kwon, 35, had posted photos on social media mocking Chinese language President Xi Jinping, and hung out in prison in China for subversion, Lee informed AFP Tuesday.

“Whilst his method of access into South Korea in violation of the regulation was once unsuitable, surveillance of the Chinese language government and political persecution of Kwon since 2016 are at the back of his life-risking crossing into South Korea,” Lee mentioned.

“He’s now weighing whether or not to use for refugee standing in South Korea or make a choice a 3rd nation,” he mentioned.

South Korea most effective grants a handful of refugees asylum each and every yr.

The Chinese language embassy in Seoul declined to remark when contacted by way of AFP.

Edited By means of:

Devika Bhattacharya

Revealed On:

Aug 23, 2023