CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-109805
Chen Pinlin
Online name: Plato
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Documentary filmmaker
Role
Citizen Journalist · Public Commentator
Record ID
CNHRA-P-109805
Biography
Chen Pinlin is an independent documentary filmmaker who published under the name Plato. His film Not the Foreign Force, titled Urumqi Middle Road in Chinese, documents the November 2022 White Paper protests in Shanghai and other cities; its Chinese title names a Shanghai street.[1][2]
Using footage of the demonstrations, the documentary follows mourning after the Urumqi fire, opposition to pandemic restrictions and expressions of political demands. Chen released the film online in November 2023, around the protests’ first anniversary.[1][2]
The Committee to Protect Journalists identifies Li Guobei and Yuan Mao among the lawyers working on his defense. Their public updates in 2024 described difficulties obtaining case files and detention conditions; Li also reported overcrowding and restricted outdoor exercise.[1]
Case Summary
Police detained Chen in Shanghai on November 28, 2023. He was formally arrested on January 5, 2024 on suspicion of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. CPJ records an indictment on April 3, concerning his production and distribution of the protest documentary.[1]
A closed pretrial meeting took place in August 2024. Defense lawyers had reported difficulty obtaining the complete file and raised procedural objections. CPJ reports that the court sentenced Chen on January 6, 2025 to three years and six months for picking quarrels and provoking trouble.[1]
Timeline
2022-11
White Paper protests documented in the film
2023-11
Documentary released online
Not the Foreign Force appeared online around the demonstrations’ first anniversary. Its footage recounts the November 2022 protests and participants’ statements.[1]
2023-11-28
Detained in Shanghai
Shanghai police detained Chen. CPJ links the detention to his production and online release of the documentary about the White Paper protests.[1]
2024-01-05
Formally arrested
2024-04-03
Indictment recorded
CPJ’s case chronology records April 3 as the indictment date. Lawyers subsequently reported problems accessing files, and a closed pretrial meeting followed in August.[1]
2025-01-06
Sentenced to three years and six months
The court imposed three years and six months for picking quarrels and provoking trouble. CPJ’s account also recounts the film’s publication, police detention and procedural objections raised by the defense.[1]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-672694Committee to Protect Journalists
Evidence location: Profile; November 28 detention, January 5 arrest and April 3 indictment; defense updates and January 6, 2025 sentence.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-800630Amnesty International
Evidence location: ASA 17/7984/2024 introduction: documentary, online release and January 5, 2024 arrest.