Chinese Artist’s 3-Year Sentence Highlights CCP’s Expanding Limits on Political Speech: Insiders
Gao Zhen was imprisoned over artworks created nearly 20 years ago, as insiders say criticism of Xi Jinping is increasingly treated as a political offense.
TL;DR
- Chinese artist Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison.
- The sentence is for artworks created nearly two decades ago.
- Insiders believe this indicates Beijing is expanding efforts to criminalize criticism of the regime.
- Gao was sentenced on August 25 by a court in Sanhe, Hebei Province.
- He was arrested in August 2024 while returning to China from New York.
- Gao is a U.S. permanent resident and moved to the U.S. in 2022.