In a stark reminder of China’s press crackdown, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has sounded the alarm over jailed journalist Dong Yuyu’s grave health decline. Hospital scans confirmed a lung tumor, prompting desperate pleas for his medical release.
Dong’s family shared that on April 28, he was rushed to a Tianjin prison hospital. A CT scan spotted a sizable mass in his lower left lung, needing advanced imaging. Arrhythmia was also diagnosed—irregular heartbeats from premature contractions—monitored via Holter device, with no updates provided.
The past four years in wrongful custody have ravaged his health, his relatives said. RSF urges global pressure on Beijing for parole, foreign treatment, and family access.
Aleksandra Bielakowska of RSF Asia-Pacific condemned the jail system’s horrors: substandard facilities, medical neglect, and routine prisoner mistreatment.
Sentenced to seven years in November 2024 after pre-trial ordeal, Dong was a 35-year veteran at state mouthpiece Guangming Daily. His fearless coverage of rights violations made him a target.
China’s detention centers breed abuse, RSF warns. Zhang Zhan endured chains and force-feeding; ‘MeToo’ pioneer Sophia Huang was restrained in a tiger chair; commentator Yang Hengjun faced torture.
Tragic precedents abound: Liu Xiaobo and Yang Tongyan succumbed to untreated cancer; Kunchok Jinpa died in custody.
With 120+ journalists imprisoned, China tops RSF’s infamous list, scraping 178/180 in press freedom rankings. The world must act to save Dong before it’s too late.
