CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-907452
Chen Qiushi
Born
Occupation
Lawyer · Citizen journalist
Role
Citizen Journalist · Public Commentator
Record ID
CNHRA-P-907452
Visual Records
Chen Qiushi at a boxing event; the source dates the photograph to 2022.
Biography
Chen Qiushi is a lawyer, public commentator and citizen journalist who discussed social issues in short videos. China Heritage describes his online audience before 2020 and his efforts to report the 2019 Hong Kong protests to mainland viewers.[1]
Chen traveled to Wuhan in January 2020 to document the COVID-19 outbreak, visiting hospitals and locations around the city and posting his observations online. HRW reported his disappearance in April alongside Fang Bin and Terminus 2049 volunteers preserving outbreak information.[1][2]
After Chen disappeared, his friend Geng Xiaonan posted updates on his account. China Heritage records continued updates until August 2020 and Geng’s own detention in September. Chen reappeared publicly through a friend’s video in September 2021.[1]
Case Summary
Chen lost contact while reporting in Wuhan in February 2020. China Heritage dates his detention to February 6; HRW’s April account gives February 7 and states that he remained unreachable at that time.[1][2]
On September 30, 2021, Chen appeared in Xu Xiaodong’s YouTube video and discussed training for a boxing match. On October 6 he addressed followers in another video. China Heritage preserves the videos, text and retrospective account.[1]
Timeline
2019
Reports on Hong Kong protests
China Heritage describes Chen’s reporting on Hong Kong’s 2019 protests for mainland viewers, alongside his earlier short-video commentary on public affairs.[1]
2020-01
Travels to Wuhan to report the outbreak
2020-02
Loses contact in Wuhan
2021-09-30
Reappears in Xu Xiaodong’s video
Chen appeared in friend Xu Xiaodong’s YouTube video and discussed preparations for a boxing match. China Heritage recounts this public appearance more than a year after his disappearance.[1]
2021-10-06
Addresses followers in a video
Chen addressed followers directly in a new video. China Heritage embedded it in its retrospective and preserved texts and material concerning his public statements.[1]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-396945China Heritage
Evidence location: Opening and videos: public commentary, Hong Kong and Wuhan reporting, February 6, 2020 detention account, Geng’s updates, September 30 and October 6, 2021 videos.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-711091Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Terminus 2049 and Liren volunteering; April 19, 2020 detentions; Fang Bin and Chen Qiushi’s Wuhan reporting and disappearance.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-687039Wikimedia Commons
Evidence location: File description, author and Licensing section.