Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi: Detention, Trials and Subsequent Developments after the Xiamen Gathering

In December 2019, Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, and others attended a gathering in Xiamen, Fujian Province, where participants discussed civil rights, the rule of law, and public affairs. The gathering later became a disputed element of the criminal proceedings. Prosecutors cited related activities in their allegations, while Xu denied that his conduct constituted subversion of state power.[2][6]

According to the public English translation of the 2023 first-instance judgment, Xu was criminally detained on February 15, 2020, on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power. He was placed under residential surveillance at a designated location the following day. On May 7, the case was transferred to the Yantai public security authorities in Shandong Province. Xu was formally arrested on June 19, 2020.[2]

On August 5, 2021, the Linyi Municipal People's Procuratorate indicted Xu for subversion of state power. Prosecutors alleged that Xu and others had organized and planned activities intended to subvert state power. Xu and his defense lawyers disputed the allegations, the legality of evidence, and the application of criminal law. Xu argued that his writings, statements, and participation in gatherings constituted the exercise of citizens' freedom of expression and involvement in public affairs.[2]

The Linyi Municipal Intermediate People's Court held a pre-trial conference on June 17, 2022. On June 22, the court conducted a closed trial, stating that the case involved state secrets. The court ultimately rejected the principal arguments presented in Xu's defense.[2]

On April 10, 2023, the court publicly announced its first-instance judgment, convicting Xu of subversion of state power and sentencing him to 14 years in prison and four years' deprivation of political rights. The publicly available judgment translation shows that the judgment was dated April 9. According to a Chinese government reply submitted to the United Nations in 2025, the Shandong High People's Court upheld the judgment in November 2023. The registered reply does not specify the exact date of the appellate decision.[2][4][5]

On November 26, 2020, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted Opinion No. 82/2020, finding categories I, II, III and V arbitrary detention in the detention under review.[3]

Human Rights Watch criticized violations of expression, association and fair-trial rights. China replied to the UN that proceedings followed the law and procedural rights were protected.[6][4]

China Change published an English translation of Xu’s appeal statement dated August 2023, discussing politics, society and public affairs.[1]

Ding Jiaxi’s public indictment records referral for prosecution review on January 19, 2021, two returns for supplementary investigation and an indictment for subversion dated August 5.[9]

In congressional testimony on February 1, 2024, Sophie Luo said the families learned that Ding had been transferred to Jiangbei Prison in Hubei and Xu to Lunan Prison in Shandong in November 2023. She also said the families had not received the judgments at that time.[10]

In October 2025, Li publicly described a letter withheld by Lunan Prison and sought written revision instructions, disclosure, prosecutorial oversight and administrative reconsideration.[11]