Chinese citizen-journalist, Zhang Zhan, who was previously incarcerated for four years for documenting the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, has been handed an additional four-year sentence, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The 42-year-old was convicted on the grounds of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” the same accusation that led to her initial imprisonment in December 2020. Zhang had been sharing first-hand accounts of the early spread of the virus in Wuhan, which contradicted the official narrative.
Attempts to reach China’s Foreign Ministry for a comment on the matter were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear whether Zhang has legal representation. RSF, an international press freedom organization, made the announcement of Zhang’s extended sentence on Saturday.
Zhang’s work, which included videos from overcrowded hospitals and deserted streets, painted a grim picture of the early stages of the pandemic, differing significantly from the official reports. RSF Asia-Pacific advocacy manager, Aleksandra Bielakowska, stated that Zhang should be globally recognized as an ‘information hero’ rather than being subjected to harsh prison conditions. She called on the international diplomatic community to exert pressure on Beijing for Zhang’s immediate release.
Zhang was initially arrested after several months of sharing her accounts. Her lawyer at the time, Ren Quanniu, stated that Zhang felt she was being persecuted for exercising her freedom of speech. Following her arrest, Zhang went on a hunger strike, which led to her being force-fed, according to court documents.
After being released in May 2024, Zhang was detained again three months later and was formally arrested and placed in Shanghai’s Pudong Detention Center. Her recent sentencing follows her reporting on China’s human rights abuses. Ren, her former lawyer, stated that the new charges were based on Zhang’s comments on overseas websites and she should not be considered guilty.
The specific activities for which Zhang was charged have never been publicly specified by China’s authorities. Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, stated that this is the second time Zhang has been tried on baseless charges, which are nothing more than a blatant act of persecution for her journalistic work. He called on Chinese authorities to end Zhang’s arbitrary detention, drop all charges, and release her immediately.
According to RSF, China has the world’s largest prison population of journalists, with at least 124 media workers currently incarcerated. The country ranks 178th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index. Just a week prior to Zhang’s latest sentencing, China’s top lawmakers passed a bill to expedite public health emergency responses by allowing individuals to report emergencies, bypassing the government’s usual hierarchical structure.