How Ex-Cop Turned Chinese Dissident Pulled Off 30-Hour Sea Escape

Last Updated:May 28, 2026, 08:21 IST

Dong spent more than 30 hours at sea before reaching South Korean waters. The engine of his inflatable boat broke down as he approached the coast.

Chinese dissident Dong Guangping, who spent years in prison and detention for his activism, has reached South Korea after carrying out a dangerous 30-hour escape by sea in a small inflatable boat, according to CNN.

Dong, 68, was rescued by the South Korean Coast Guard after travelling from the Chinese coastal city of Weihai in Shandong province. His lawyer and fellow activists confirmed his identity after South Korean fishermen reportedly spotted the drifting boat near Taean county on Monday evening.

Fourth Attempt To Flee China

A former police officer turned government critic, Dong has long faced persecution from Chinese authorities over his activism and public criticism of the government. His latest escape attempt is being described by supporters as his fourth effort to flee China and reunite with his wife and daughter, who were earlier granted asylum in Canada. Dong himself had also been granted asylum there but repeatedly failed to leave China successfully.

Engine Failure and Exhaustion At Sea

According to Chinese-Canadian activist Sheng Xue cited by CNN, Dong spent more than 30 hours at sea before reaching South Korean waters. She said the engine of his inflatable boat broke down as he approached the coast, leaving him exhausted and close to fainting after two days without sleep. Sheng recalled that Dong sounded emotional but relieved when he finally managed to contact supporters after reaching safety.

Diplomatic Challenge For South Korea

The development has placed South Korea in a diplomatically sensitive position. President Lee Jae Myung’s government has attempted to improve relations with Beijing in recent months, and Dong’s arrival could complicate those efforts. Human rights organisations have already urged Seoul not to deport him back to China.

Rights Groups Raise Concerns

Rights group Human Rights in China described Dong’s escape as a powerful reflection of the conditions faced by dissidents in China. The organisation said it was deeply troubling that a man nearing 70 years of age had to risk his life crossing open waters in a small inflatable boat simply to seek freedom and reunite with his family, as reported by the outlet.

A Long History Of Persecution

Dong’s conflict with Chinese authorities stretches back decades. He previously served as a police officer in Zhengzhou, in Henan province, before being dismissed after signing a letter connected to the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. He was later jailed for activism and detained again in 2014 after participating in a memorial event for victims of the crackdown.

Previous Escape Attempts Failed

In 2015, Dong fled to Thailand with his wife and daughter and sought refugee status through the United Nations. While his family later moved to Canada, Thai authorities deported Dong back to China despite appeals from human rights groups and UN officials. He was subsequently sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

After his release in 2019, Dong made multiple unsuccessful attempts to escape China. He reportedly tried to swim to Taiwan-controlled Kinmen island and later crossed illegally into Vietnam, only to be arrested and deported again. Chinese authorities later sentenced him to 11 months in prison for illegal border crossing before releasing him in October 2023.

Family Still Waiting For Reunion

Dong’s daughter, Katherine Dong, had earlier said that her father’s determination to reunite with his family and live freely never faded despite repeated setbacks. Following his latest escape, however, the family has declined to make any public comments.

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