Taiwanese businessman detained in China for 3 years photographed with KMT chair

Lee Meng-chu, a Taiwanese businessman who was detained in China for over three years on charges of engaging in activities harmful to national security, has reappeared in public alongside prominent political figures. Lee was accused by Chinese authorities of being a "Taiwanese spy" and was featured on state television in 2020 alongside other individuals confessing to similar charges.

After serving a sentence of 1 year and 10 months, Lee was unable to leave China for two years due to a supplementary penalty of deprivation of political rights. He reportedly attempted to return to Taiwan from Shanghai but failed. It was not until July 2023 that he was permitted to leave China, residing in Tokyo for over a month before finally returning to Taiwan. His return to Taiwan has been over three years since his initial detention.

Recently, Lee was photographed with Johnny Chiang, the chairwoman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party, at a formal dinner for Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard alumni. Lee attended the event as a co-organizer and sponsor. He shared on Facebook that the gathering brought together distinguished alumni from these prestigious universities, fostering cross-school exchange in Taiwan.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing concerns regarding Taiwanese citizens in China. According to statistics from Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, from January 2024 to August 21 of the current year, 419 Taiwanese citizens have been reported missing, detained, or had their freedom restricted in China. This figure represents an increase of three individuals since the last report, with two more cases of detention and one more case of being held in custody by Chinese authorities.

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The gathering brought together distinguished alumni from Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard universities, fostering cross-school exchange in Taiwan.