A Chinese activist reached South Korean shores after crossing the sea in a rubber boat. Dong Guangping, 68, remains in custody after coastguard officers detained him Monday evening. Reports indicate he spent more than 30 hours at sea to arrive from China. Dong had made several prior escape attempts. In 2015 he reached Thailand with his wife and daughter, yet Thai officials returned him to China despite UN refugee recognition. He then served over three years in prison. After release in 2019 he attempted to swim toward a Taiwanese island but was retrieved by fishermen. In 2020 he crossed into Vietnam before being sent back again. A fellow dissident in Canada, using the name Sheng Xue, spoke with Dong by phone Tuesday while he was held in Taean county. On Wednesday the coastguard confirmed that a Chinese man in his sixties had been questioned over immigration rules. He was found on a 3.3-metre vessel with a small motor roughly 38 nautical miles offshore. The journey reportedly began near Weifang in Shandong province, covering more than 300 kilometres. Dong appeared nearly unconscious upon arrival. The contact said the attempt reflected his long-standing resolve. Dong had earlier served time from 2001 to 2004 for alleged subversion linked to his activism after the 1989 Tiananmen events. He now seeks resettlement in Canada where relatives reside. Chinese and Canadian missions in Seoul received requests for comment, while South Korean coastguard officials declined further remarks.
