Source: Taiwanese Publisher Fucha Released But Barred from Leaving China

(CNA reporter Chu Chien-ling, Taipei, 9th) An authoritative source has confirmed that Fucha (Li Yanhe), the editor-in-chief of Taiwanese publisher Gusa Publishing, was released in May after completing a three-year sentence. He had been sentenced in 2023 by China for "inciting secession." However, he is currently unable to leave China as he must still serve an "additional sentence" of one year's deprivation of political rights.

A source who maintains contact with Fucha's family stated that Fucha has indeed been released. In response to inquiries, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) declined to confirm, citing concerns for the family. China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesman Chen Binhua said to wait for the regular press conference on Wednesday.

After being detained by Shanghai's state security unit on March 21, 2023, Fucha was sentenced by the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in the first instance in February 2025. He was sentenced to three years in prison, one year's deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of personal property worth RMB 50,000 for "inciting secession."

Previously, Fucha was cited as a specific case of punishing "Taiwan independence" in the reports of China's Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate, and was widely publicized during China's "Two Sessions" of the NPC and CPPCC.

According to previous Taiwanese media reports, Fucha has been released from prison but must still serve the additional sentence of one year's deprivation of political rights and is currently unable to leave China. Fucha is originally a Chinese citizen, so he can only live in China after his release. He has reunited with his family, and his Taiwanese wife can visit him in China. "It seems he is free, just unable to leave the country."

The mainland's TAO previously responded to the question of whether Fucha was released in May by stating that the criminal facts of Li Yanhe's case were clear, and the judicial organs would conduct a public trial and enforce the criminal law in accordance with the law. It added, "Certain media on the island repeatedly hype up individual judicial cases to slander and smear the mainland's judicial system with ulterior motives." (Editor: Chou Hui-ying) 1150609