Australian Citizen Recalls Harrowing Imprisonment in China
Matthew Radalj, an Australian citizen, recently shared his distressing experiences after spending nearly five years in a Chinese prison. He described facing torture, psychological abuse, enforced labor, and deplorable living conditions at Beijing No. 2 prison, known for housing many international inmates.
Radalj claims that his conviction stemmed from a dispute with a shopkeeper over phone screen repairs. He felt that in a legal system boasting a near-100% conviction rate, fighting back was pointless. He described being coerced into signing a false confession concerning robbery, believing this might lead to a lighter sentence. Eventually, he was sentenced to four years, according to court documentation.
Brutality and Strictures
Upon his initial detention, Radalj faced a brutal introduction to the Chinese justice system. He was subjected to a “transition phase” at a different facility where physical violence and psychological torment were rampant. Just days after his arrest on January 2, 2020, he endured beatings for two consecutive days and was compelled to sign documents while denied food, water, and sleep.
In this initial phase, rules were exceedingly strict. He recalled that even toilet access was limited to scheduled times, and conditions were horrendous—excrement from above would drip down on detainees.
Later, Radalj was transferred to a standard prison, where the inmates shared cramped cells, and lights remained on around the clock. Basic activities, such as eating, took place in confined spaces, contributing to a suffocating atmosphere.
The inmate population was diverse, including individuals from Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, as well as the UK and the US. Many were involved in drug-related offenses, often serving as mules.
Psychological Manipulation
Radalj argued that inmates were subjected to severe psychological torment, exemplified by a points system meant to encourage good behavior. In theory, inmates could earn points for activities such as studying Communist texts, working in prison jobs, or informing on fellow prisoners. Accumulating a staggering 4,200 points could potentially lead to reduced sentences, but Radalj insisted the system was designed to foster mental suffering instead.
He noted that guards would wait for moments when prisoners were close to earning privileges, then revoking points for minor infractions—like stepping out of line or sharing food near a window—creating an atmosphere rife with anxiety and paranoia.
Punishments Through Deprivation
Radalj recounted frequent food reductions as common punishment, with meals primarily consisting of cabbage in water and occasional carrots or minimal meat, along with meager bread. This diet left many prisoners malnourished. The lack of enough nutrition, coupled with inadequate exercise, led to physical deterioration among the inmates. Although families were able to fund additional food items, Radalj’s refusal to work in the prison factory for 14 months led to the suspension of that privilege.
Inmates were also forced to work on farms producing vegetables that they weren’t allowed to consume; instead, the produce was buried and paraded as part of prison propaganda. Serious penalties awaited anyone caught stealing; Radalj himself spent up to eight months in solitary confinement for this offense. Sometimes, prisoners who worked in the kitchen would sneak better food, which occasionally ignited disputes between different groups.
Solitary Confinement’s Toll
The struggle over food distribution ignited a brawl between African and Taiwanese inmates, with Radalj inadvertently caught in the fray. As punishment, he endured 194 days in solitary confinement, a small and light-starved cell, devoid of human contact. He described the psychological toll, as he found himself engaging in conversations with his own thoughts and questioning his sanity.
Radalj noted the calculated efforts by Chinese prison officials to stage misleading portrayals of prison life. For instance, a “computer suite” was set up to give the false impression that inmates could access emails; in reality, the equipment was never connected to the internet, rather a ruse for media appearances.
Keeping a Secret Journal
While imprisoned, Radalj managed to keep a journal by writing brief notes inside a Covid mask, assisted by North Korean inmates. Many of his fellow prisoners couldn’t contact their families due to financial constraints or unregistered phone lines. His writing became a means for them to send messages, fostering hope that details could be shared when he was released.
He ultimately concealed his journal by sewing the notes into the lining of his jacket. He wrapped it securely, but eventual suspicion from guards forced him to hide it. On his release day, October 5, 2024, he successfully managed to slip the notes away unnoticed despite searches.
Life After Release
After gaining freedom, Radalj was cautioned by authorities not to return to China for a decade. Upon returning to Australia, he reunited with his father and later married his long-time girlfriend. Although he still struggles with anger and the recovery process, he is focused on aiding his former prison companions by reaching out to their families and engaging with the embassy. This has not only helped him navigate his own return to life but also instilled a sense of purpose and gratitude toward his newfound freedom. He expressed feeling a profound responsibility for those he left behind, emphasizing a newfound appreciation for life’s simplest pleasures.
“Freedom brings gratitude. I have a deep appreciation for the simplest things now. But I feel a heavy responsibility for those I left in prison,” he remarked.
