A hero released

Jay Nordlinger

I’m grateful to write these words: Jian-li Yang is freed. After five years as a political prisoner in Communist China, this hero of human rights has been released. He is expected to return to the United States as soon as he can.

Regular readers of this column are well familiar with Jian-li. I first met him in 2001, when he swung by the office for a chat. He was head of the Foundation for China in the 21st Century, in Brookline, Mass. He had received two Ph.D.s: one in math from Berkeley, and the other in political economy from Harvard. He had also been a leader at Tiananmen Square.

Though Jian-li was young — in his 30s — I was aware of being in the presence of a great man. As we chatted, I asked him whether there was a book that could describe the situation of Chinese intellectuals. He said, sure: Milosz’s Captive Mind.

In April 2002, Jian-li went to China to investigate a labor movement in the country’s northeast. Quickly, he was nabbed. He vanished for a period, then resurfaced in a kangaroo court, denied all rights. Jian-li has “permanent resident” status in the United States; his wife, Christina Fu, and their two children are American citizens. Christina and her supporters have lovingly and faithfully maintained a Free Jian-li website.

I hope to see him — see him again — as soon as possible. And I will report back to you. Frankly, I wondered whether he could make it out alive. It was not unreasonable to think they might kill him.

In any case — rejoice. Long-awaited and immensely gratifying news has been received.

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