China: Sichuan public security detain journalists Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao

February 4, 2026 Comments Off

Writers apparently targeted over article criticizing party secretary

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders — February 4, 2026) On February 1, Chengdu Public Security Bureau officers detained renowned journalist Liu Hu while he was traveling to Beijing. On February 2, Liu’s family learned that Chengdu authorities had placed Liu under criminal detention on suspicion of “making false accusations” and conducting “illegal business operations,” according to Chinese-language site Rights Defense Network (RDN).

Also on February 1, Chengdu public security officers traveled over 1,300 kilometers to Hebei Province to detain Liu’s colleague, Wu Yingjiao. RDN reported that authorities could be targeting Liu and Wu over an article they published on January 29 on their WeChat public account. The article alleged abuse of power and corrupt behavior by a Sichuan county party secretary. Wu faces the same charges as Liu.

“The detentions illustrate a familiar pattern: instead of investigating allegations of official wrongdoing, Chinese authorities persecute the journalists who expose abuses,” said Shane Yi, researcher at CHRD. “Authorities should immediately release Liu and Wu, and investigate the allegations of corruption.”

On February 3, lawyers for Liu and Wu traveled to Chengdu City Detention Center seeking to meet with their clients. Despite waiting the entire day, detention center staff denied the lawyers access to their clients, citing the lawyers’ lack of prior reservations and an overwhelming number of meeting requests, according to updates CHRD received. On February 4, Liu’s lawyer was given access to his client.

Another media source, China Digital Times (CDT), revealed that following the publication of Liu’s and Wu’s article, the Chengdu Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission requested Liu’s assistance in “fact-checking the relevant circumstances” in the article, while also reminding him to use designated channels for reporting on public servants or filing petitions. Liu responded that his article constituted neither a petition nor an official complaint. The article has since been deleted, though the circumstances surrounding its removal remain unclear.

Liu Hu, 50, is a well-known investigative journalist who previously worked for state media outlets including New Express. Between 2013 and 2014, authorities detained him for nearly a year over his reporting exposing corruption among government officials, including a former deputy mayor of Chongqing. He was released on bail, and the procuratorate eventually dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence. Since 2016, Liu has continued his work through social media platforms, maintaining his commitment to exposing official corruption and abuse of power despite the risks.

Wu Yingjiao is a reporter and photographer who has been nominated for multiple journalism awards, according to CDT.

CHRD urges the Chinese government to end its systematic restrictions on journalism and free expression. Article 35 of China’s constitution guarantees the right to expression; several international human rights treaties to which China is a party also protect this right.

Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaigns and economic priorities are in tension with the CCP’s strict control of press, and the space for independent journalism has sharply narrowed. Fewer independent media professionals or citizen journalists are willing or able to take the risks necessary to report on issues of public interest, as many have been wrongfully prosecuted, arbitrarily detained, or forced into exile.

Highly public cases — including the repeated prosecutions of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, the imprisonment of state media commentator Dong Yuyu, and the jailing of former state media journalist Chen Jieren — are meant to intimidate and silence others.
Authorities regularly censor online news and social media platforms, particularly content critical of the government or discussions that gain widespread public attention. Although platforms such as WeChat have at times allowed limited reporting or discussion of issues like corruption through individual “self-media” accounts (ones not operated or approved by the government or state media), these are frequently shut down, and their authors often face retaliation.

“The public’s right to know about official misconduct is being sacrificed to protect those in power from scrutiny and consequences,” Yi said. “The only remedy is the immediate and unconditional release of Liu Hu, Wu Yingjiao, and all imprisoned journalists and free speech defenders.”

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For more information, please contact:

Sophie Richardson, Co-Executive Director, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, sophierichardson[at]nchrd.org, +1 917 721 7473

Angeli Datt, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, angelidatt[at]nchrd.org, +1 934 444 6155

Shane Yi, Researcher, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, shaneyi[at]nchrd.org