Dissident flees China by inflatable boat, hoping it’s 4th time lucky on escape attempts

A Chinese dissident who fled the country aboard an inflatable boat has been detained in South Korea, with rights groups calling for him to be granted asylum after three previous escape attempts saw him returned to China.

SEOUL, South Korea — A Chinese dissident who fled the country aboard an inflatable boat has been detained in South Korea, with rights groups calling for him to be granted asylum after three previous escape attempts saw him returned to China.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

Dong Guangping, 68, a former police officer who has been imprisoned multiple times over his criticism of China’s ruling Communist Party, was detained late Monday by the South Korean coast guard, a spokesperson told NBC News on Wednesday.

Authorities detained Dong off the coast of Taean in South Chungcheong province after he was spotted by a fishing vessel, which alerted officials. Dong’s rubber boat was about 11 feet long and had a 9.9-horsepower engine, the spokesperson said.