View source for Wang Bingzhang (dissident)

{{Short description|Chinese dissident}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Wang (surname)|Wang]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{expand Chinese|date=March 2023|topic=bio}}
'''Wang Bingzhang''' ({{zh|c=王炳章|p=Wáng Bǐngzhāng}}; born December 30, 1947) is a Chinese [[human rights activist]] and founder of two Chinese pro-democracy movements. He was abducted in [[Vietnam]] in June 2002 and detained by Chinese secret police. The Chinese government announced his detention in December 2002, charging him with espionage and terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wang Bingzhang: Political Dissident Still Imprisoned by China |url=https://www.cbc.ca/firsthand/m_features/wang-bingzhang-political-dissident-still-imprisoned-by-china |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> He was sentenced to life in prison and is considered a [[political prisoner]] of China.

==Biography==
Wang Bingzhang was born on December 30, 1947,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wang Bingzhang et al. v. China, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention |url=http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/wgad/10-2003.html |publisher=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |date=May 9, 2003}}</ref> in [[Shijiazhuang]], [[Hebei]], China. He graduated from [[Beijing Medical University]] and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in [[McGill University]], Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in [[pathology]] in 1982.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.wangbingzhang.us/about/article0005_en.htm An Introduction Of Dr. Wangbingzhang<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Wang Bingzhang is the first citizen of the [[People's Republic of China]] to get a doctorate degree in North America.

In 1982, Wang established ''China Spring'', the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. The next year, he launched the {{lang|zh|中国民主团结联盟}} (translated variously as "Alliance for Democratic China"/"China Alliance for Democracy"/"Union of Chinese Democracy Movement"), publicly denouncing the [[one-party rule]] in China.  He later traveled back to China and co-founded two [[opposition parties]], the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led to his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

In June 2002, Wang went to [[Vietnam]] with [[Yue Wu (activist)|Yue Wu]] and [[Zhang Qi (activist)|Zhang Qi]] where they were captured. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in custody.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170132003?open&of=ENG-CHN China: Further information on Possible disappearance/Incommunicado detention/Fear for Safety] Press Release from Amnesty International - February 12, 2003</ref>

In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehaving when he went on [[hunger strike]] to plead for release to pay a final respect to his father at his funeral; but he was handcuffed by and locked with a jail guard in his jail cell.  This resulted in prolonged punishment.  Visitation rights were restored in November 2006.  According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health had deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation.  This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden who served much lower food quality, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/92000/asa170382004en.pdf Medical Action China: Ill-health of Dr Wang Bingzhang, imprisoned medical doctor and activist] Amnesty International Press Release – July 20, 2004</ref>

Various international organizations, including the [[United Nations]], [[Amnesty International]], [[Human Rights Watch]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20060106063724/http://world-rights.org/home.htm Worldrights], and the [[Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights]] have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him.<ref>[http://www.freechina.net/2004/UN/00002.htm UN Declares Wang Bingzhang To Be Arbitrarily Detained] Decision from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - April 11, 2003</ref> The United States and Canadian legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the [[Communist Party of China|CCP]]'s actions.<ref>[http://www.world-rights.org/china/326.htm Full text of US House of Representatives Resolution]</ref><ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=3272&SourceId=66274 Full text of Canadian Parliamentary Resolution]</ref> Freedom House awarded Dr Wang the 2024 Freedom Award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Freedom House Announces 2024 Award Recipients and Michael J. Abramowitz Fund for Freedom in the World |url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-house-announces-2024-award-recipients-and-michael-j-abramowitz-fund-freedom-world |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=Freedom House |date=9 May 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Chinese democracy movement]]
*[[List of Chinese dissidents]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060106063724/http://world-rights.org/home.htm Worldrights]
*"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2593593.stm China's veteran dissident]" (BBC)
* [http://cdjp.org/ Chinese Democracy Justice Party] website
{{1989 Tiananmen protests}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Bingzhang}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chinese dissidents]]
[[Category:Chinese democracy activists]]
[[Category:Chinese human rights activists]]
[[Category:Chinese prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:McGill University Faculty of Medicine alumni]]
[[Category:Political prisoners in China]]