Independent Chinese Director Zhang Peng Detained by Police; YouTuber Bajiuo Voices Support

Independent Chinese film director and YouTuber Zhang Peng, also known by his online moniker Zhang Neixian, has been criminally detained by Beijing police. His family confirmed the arrest on July 9, reporting that Zhang has been missing for 10 days. He is accused of the vaguely defined offense of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."

The family disclosed that late on July 1, around 11 p.m., law enforcement officers entered Zhang's residence in Beijing's Tsinghua University district. They presented a detention notice from the Haidian police, stating Zhang was taken into custody on July 2 at 8 p.m. for allegedly "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" and is currently held in a detention center. The family stated they have received no further information beyond this notice and are seeking public assistance.

YouTuber Bajiuo expressed solidarity with Zhang, noting the 10-day period of lost contact and the delayed delivery of the detention notice. Bajiuo questioned the official reason for Zhang's arrest, reportedly related to his stand-up comedy performances on YouTube. He also raised concerns about the police's procedure, suggesting they entered and apprehended Zhang without initially presenting an arrest or search warrant, sparking discussions about freedom of expression in China.

The family continues to seek more details about the case and plans to provide updates via Zhang's YouTube channel. They are appealing for wider attention to help Zhang gain an opportunity to speak out.