On October 15, John Kirby of the U.S. State Department advocated for the ‘freedom of movement’ of a 16 year-old boy, named Bao Zhuoxuan, being held under house arrest by the Chinese government after his parents were jailed a few months ago for their involvement as lawyers in peaceful political, religious, and women’s rights’ activities. While family friends were attempting to help him escape to San Francisco on October 6, he was intercepted by Chinese authorities, which Bao has described as a kidnapping. It was made known this week that he is being detained at his grandmother’s home located in Inner Mongolia. This Friday in Beijing U.S. assistant secretary of State Tom Malinowski challenged officials of China concerning the treatment of Bao and his mother, Ms. Wang, claiming that both the detention length and the absence of council were violations of China’s laws. According to U.S. officials, the detainment of Bao demonstrates the targeting of Chinese citizens by the Chinese government in a “systematic campaign of abuse.”

Apparently, China is trying to silence those citizens who politically threaten the government’s authoritative control. It’s decision to use a lawyer’s teenage son has drawn the attention of the U.S. Hopefully, our intervention will result in the release of the young man so he can continue his studies as he hoped to do in San Francisco.

Amanda Zgonina