Wang Chunyan’s Story of Persecution

In a recent interview, Wang Chunyan’s hand trembled as she showed a photo containing 21 smiling faces. These included a married couple, a university lecturer, a young engineer, and a friend she made during her prison time. Sadly, some of these individuals have died while in custody, others after enduring years of mistreatment, and some have simply vanished within the vast network of China’s security apparatus. “I lost over 25 friends during this persecution,” she said, her voice breaking, “I only have photos of 21 of them.”

Chunyan, a 70-year-old practitioner of Falun Gong, recounted how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has systematically dismantled her life over the past two decades. They took away her business, her home, and ultimately sentenced her to seven years in prison. The hardest part? She believes her husband suffered the ultimate fate: “My beloved husband died due to persecution,” she revealed.

As President Trump prepares for discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, focusing on trade and security issues, Chunyan’s account underscores a deeper struggle—a long-standing campaign by the Chinese government against spiritual and religious groups considered threats to its power. Former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback highlighted that Chunyan’s experience is part of a larger battle within China. “Either the world changes China, or China changes the world,” he remarked, stressing that personal stories often convey the realities of persecution more effectively than dry statistics.

In his book, “China’s Wars of Faith,” Brownback documented Chunyan’s story along with those of other survivors, emphasizing that narratives hold substantial power. He stated, “Stories are more powerful than data.” The book outlines a sophisticated system of surveillance and repression targeting various faith groups, arguing that the CCP views independent religious movements as direct threats to its authority. Brownback asserted, “They fear religious freedom more than anything else, seeing it as a greater threat than military capabilities.”

Chunyan’s journey began in the late ’90s when she was struggling with severe insomnia. A sister introduced her to Falun Gong, a spiritual practice emphasizing meditation and core principles of “truth, compassion, and tolerance.” This movement grew rapidly and attracted millions, but the government banned it in 1999, labeling it a threat to Communist rule.

Chunyan claims that Falun Gong helped her improve her health and quality of life. She recalls, “My business was thriving, my family was happy, life was perfect.” But when the government’s crackdown initiated, she felt compelled to counter the false narratives being spread about the practice. She purchased a printing press to distribute flyers, and shortly after, she noticed increased surveillance around her.

“The place where I worked was under constant watch,” Chunyan shared. Fearing for her safety, she often evaded home. For years, she went into hiding, communicating with her husband, Yu Yefu, through prepaid phone cards and public settings, all while maintaining a façade of normalcy.

Although Yu never practiced Falun Gong, the police pressured him to disclose her whereabouts, which he never did. Tragically, in 2002, Chunyan lost contact with him. When she finally returned home, she found him unconscious; medics could do nothing to save him. “He protected me,” she said tearfully, recalling he died at 49, with their daughter still in college.

The family’s grief spiraled further; Chunyan’s mother-in-law stopped eating and became paralyzed, while her father-in-law succumbed to sorrow. Several of her sisters were imprisoned and tortured. Eventually, Chunyan too was imprisoned, suffering from forced labor, sleep deprivation, and physical abuse. She still vividly remembers one incident where the pain during torture led her to pass out multiple times in just one day.

Before her release, authorities allegedly conducted mysterious blood tests. Fellow inmates suggested they were checking for Falun Gong detainees prior to release. After hearing stories about alleged forced organ harvesting, Chunyan felt a chill of fear regarding those experiments. “It was terrifying,” she recalled.

Now living in the U.S. after leaving China in 2013 and arriving in 2015 via Thailand, Chunyan still feels the weight of her losses. “Millions of families like ours in China are facing persecution by the CCP,” she wants the world to know. In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy dismissed Chunyan’s claims, labeling them “malicious fabrications” and branding Falun Gong as an anti-social cult that poses a societal threat.