Gusa Press (八旗文化) editor in chief Li Yanhe (李延賀), also known as Fucha (富察), was reportedly arrested by Chinese police in Shanghai while visiting family, Chinese poet Bei Ling (貝嶺) said yesterday.
Bei wrote on Facebook that Li returned to China last month to visit family and was secretly arrested by police while traveling in Shanghai.
He added that he has not heard from Li since then.
Photo: screen grab from Facebook
Bei told the Central News Agency (CNA) that he received the information from his friends in the art and cultural industry in Shanghai, adding that he was told that China’s Ministry of State Security and Ministry of Public Security were involved in the operation.
Further details about Li’s plight would have to be verified through official channels of communication with China, he said.
A Chinese of Manchurian descent, Li was the deputy managing editor of the Shanghai Art and Literature Publishing House before relocating to Taiwan with his Taiwanese spouse, Bei wrote.
“Gusa Press has published many books that are banned in China,” he said. “Fucha is considered by Beijing an important editor in Taiwan’s cultural industry, who publishes books and can decide which books should be published. He is perceived as indicative of the cultural elite in Taiwan.”
Police in Shanghai should release Li and let him return to Taiwan, Bei wrote.
“I hope that our colleagues in the cultural and publishing industries would speak out and try to rescue Fucha. He can only be freed through the attention and intervention from the international community and public, extensive and persistent pressure from civic groups,” he wrote.
“Hopefully, Fucha only stays in China for now because of force majeure and he can return to Taiwan any time,” he added.
Bei said he was arrested and imprisoned 20 years ago on charges of illegal publishing. He was eventually rescued through the work of US writer and activist Susan Sontag, a close friend, he said.
However, Bei removed the post a few hours later at the request of Li’s family and Gusa Press.
“Fucha’s family believes that he is safe and wishes to keep everything low profile for now. They are seeking every under-the-table means available so that he can freely return to Taiwan,” Bei wrote in another post.
Book Republic Publishing Group, which owns Gusa Press, said it lost contact with Li after he traveled to China.
He did not contact his wife in Taiwan, nor has he updated his Facebook page, the group said.
Chinese officials and Taiwanese businesspeople in Shanghai said they have not heard about Li’s arrest.
A Taiwanese businessperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying that it is difficult to determine whether Li was detained or arrested, given the limited information they have about Li, including his reasons for returning to Shanghai and why he cut off contact.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏) said the council has been paying close attention to the case and offering care and assistance to Li’s family.
“While we care about Fucha’s whereabouts, we also need to respect the wishes of his family. All we can say for now is that he is safe and that we will continue to offer assistance to his family,” Jan said.
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