Human Rights in China
Focus Areas
Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Standing in solidarity with rights-defending lawyers in China who have had their licenses revoked, been arrested, or been subjected to enforced disappearance, including T'ang Chi-t'an, Liu Wei, Wang Yü, Yü Wen-sheng, and others.
The Li Ming-che Case
Taiwanese citizen Li Ming-che lost contact after traveling to China in March 2017 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison in November of that year. JRF has continued to monitor and advocate for him, and Li Ming-che returned to Taiwan upon completing his sentence in April 2022.
International Monitoring Mechanisms
Calling on the United Nations to establish an independent monitoring mechanism for human rights violations in China, and urging the international community to jointly respond to China's suppression of civil society.
Taiwanese in China
Tracking Taiwanese citizens subjected to enforced disappearance or arbitrary detention in China, including cases such as Fu Cha (Li Meng-chü), and paying close attention to the gap in the protection of personal freedom across the Taiwan Strait.
What is the "709 Crackdown"?
In the early morning hours of July 9, 2015, Chinese police initiated a massive wave of arrests targeting human rights lawyers and activists, known as the "709 Crackdown." Within a matter of weeks, over 300 lawyers, legal assistants, and human rights defenders across China were summoned, detained, or subjected to enforced disappearance, including prominent figures such as Wang Yü, Chiang T'ien-yung, and Chai Yen-min.
This was the largest political purge targeting the legal profession in modern Chinese history. Those detained not only faced criminal prosecution, but some were also long denied the right to meet with lawyers while subjected to "residential surveillance at a designated location," with their families' visitation and communication strictly restricted.
Taiwan's Role: Due to the unique historical connection between Taiwan and China, Taiwanese civil society bears a high degree of responsibility and concern for human rights issues in China. JRF believes that defending the right to counsel for Chinese lawyers is also a crucial effort to safeguard the quality of cross-strait judicial exchanges and prevent Taiwanese citizens from facing similar treatment in China.
Key Milestones
Featured Articles and Statements
Below are key articles and action records for this project. Click to read the full text (opens in a new window).
Support JRF and Keep Human Rights Advocacy Heard
The Judicial Reform Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on public support for its long-term operations. Your donations allow us to continuously monitor Chinese human rights lawyers, stand in solidarity regarding the personal freedom of Taiwanese citizens in China, and promote international monitoring mechanisms.
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2025
Remarks by Lee Ming-Ju on the 36th Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Crackdown and the 10th Anniversary of the 709 Crackdown
This year marks the 36th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China. Although the Chinese authorities…
2022
China's Legal Information Warfare to Divide Taiwan and Hong Kong
Whether concerning the Meng-Chu Li case or the Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering…
2020
Wide-Angle Perspective: 709
On July 31, 2012, the overseas edition of the People's Daily published an article titled "Where Do China's True…
2020
The Road Beneath Our Feet, Where Does It Lead? Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Revocation of Attorneys T'ang Chi-t'ien's and Liu Wei's Licenses
2020 marks the tenth year since attorneys T'ang Chi-t'ien and Liu Wei had their attorney licenses revoked. While many…
2020
Liu Cheng-ch'ing: Elegy for a Hollow Tree—Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the Revocation of T'ang Chi-t'an's and Liu Wei's Licenses
April 30, 2010 marked the day lawyers T'ang Chi-t'an and Liu Wei had their licenses revoked by the Beijing Bureau of…
2019
After the Amendment of the Attorney Regulation Act
The United Nations formulated the "Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers," emphasizing that "self-regulation of the…
2019
A World of Difference: The Protection of Personal Liberty Across the Taiwan Strait
Hsiang Hsin and Kung Ch'ing, a couple heading the Hong Kong-listed company China Innovation Investment, were implicated…
2019
From Li Ming-che to Lee Meng-chu: Cross-Strait Personal Liberty Lacks Protection
Taiwanese citizen Lee Meng-chu went missing for three weeks after entering China on August 19. It was only recently…
2019
Review of the Controversy Between the Taipei Bar Association and the Taiwan Bar Association
The participation of the Taiwan Bar Association in the "Cross-Strait Peaceful Development Law Forum" sparked a…
2019
Quieting the "Heroes' Civil War": The Bar Association Must Reform
High-ranking officials of the Taiwan National Bar Association attended the "Cross-Strait Peaceful Development Law…
2017
Viewing the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party Through the Li Ming-che Case
The Chinese Communist Party rushed to publicly try Lee Ming-che before its 19th National Congress, yet has delayed…
2017
Observations on the Li Ming-che Case: Seeing What Taiwan Must Do at the Yueyang Court
Monday's major trial in the Lee Ming-che case set numerous records in cross-strait judicial relations. Most notably,…