Zhang Zhan stands near scaffolding outside a shop during a visit to Wuhan in Hubei province, China, on April 11, 2020. Courtesy of Melanie Wang via AP
Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was previously jailed for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, went on trial again in Shanghai on Sept. 19.
Chinese authorities blocked supporters from attending, and foreign diplomats were barred from observing the proceedings. Zhang faces charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” an ambiguous law often used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to target political dissidents.
Zhang’s trial is closely watched internationally as a gauge of China’s treatment of journalists and dissidents.
The Pudong New Area People’s Court of Shanghai opened Zhang’s case under tight restrictions on the morning of Sept. 19. Police surrounded the courthouse, blocking access to people who tried to show support or simply witness the trial.
Diplomats from several Western countries attempted to attend but were denied entry on the grounds of “incomplete paperwork,” according to the International Service for Human Rights. Chinese officials did not confirm whether the court hearing was underway. Rights groups criticized the move as further evidence of Beijing’s disregard for transparency and the rule of law.
A policeman covers a camera to stop journalists from recording footage outside the Shanghai Pudong New District People’s Court, where Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan is set for trial in Shanghai, on Dec. 28, 2020. Leo Ramirez/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China called for Zhang’s immediate and unconditional release on Sept. 17, citing her declining health due to repeated hunger strikes to protest the CCP’s arbitrary detention.
Reporters Without Borders noted that Zhang had been cut off from outside contact for the past year and that details of her detention were kept secret to avoid international scrutiny of her treatment.
Zhang’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic earned her multiple international awards, including a Press Freedom Award for Courage from Reporters Without Borders, the Lin Zhao Freedom Award from ChinaAid, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s Honorary Prize for Freedom of Expression.
Suppression of Supporters
The CCP also moved to silence Zhang’s supporters. Some reported that local police intercepted them before they could travel to Shanghai. A Wuhan-based rights activist said he was threatened with punishment if he attempted to leave the city. Others who managed to arrive in Shanghai were tracked down and detained by police.
Shanghai-based activist Shen Yanqiu was detained on the morning of the trial and released only in the afternoon. Chinese lawyer Peng Yonghe, who had volunteered to testify in Zhang’s defense, was placed under police control the day before. Anticipating restrictions, Peng recorded a video message beforehand, calling Zhang “a true patriot” committed to constitutionalism, democracy, and the rule of law.
“The indictment does not specify her criminal motive,” he said. “If Zhang Zhan’s actions do not constitute what is called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble,’ then she may be innocent. I am willing to testify in court on her behalf.”
Other lawyers and dissidents issued statements declaring Zhang innocent and condemning the trial as political persecution.
Pro-democracy activists hold placards with the picture of former lawyer Zhang Zhan as they march to the Chinese central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, on Dec. 28, 2020. Kin Cheung/AP Photo
This is Zhang’s second trial in the past five years. In 2020, she traveled alone to Wuhan to report on the regime’s handling of the pandemic. She was among the first Chinese citizens openly calling on the communist regime to reveal the truth about the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2020, Zhang was arrested and held for several months before being sentenced to four years in prison. While in prison, she staged a hunger strike that left her in critical condition and drew international concern.
She was released on May 13, 2024, and she continued to support other political dissidents and human rights activists. In her current trial, she faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
Press Freedom in China
Zhang’s case highlights China’s poor record on press freedom. In its 2025 global index, Reporters Without Borders ranked China 178th out of 180 countries. The group reports that 112 journalists and media workers are currently imprisoned in China.
“Zhang Zhan dared to expose the crimes of the regime even under its tyranny,” New Zealand-based Chinese dissident Xing Jian told The Epoch Times. “She has not bowed to evil. She’s using her life to fight for truth and justice.”
Hong Ning contributed to this report.
