Former ICORN guest writer Jiao Guobiao arrested, released; remaining under tight surveillance.

According to PEN’s information, Dr.Jiao Guobiao was arrested on 12 September 2012 on charges of ‘suspicion of inciting subversion of state power’ following the publication of an article on the Chinese-language web site Boxun.com on 11 September 2012 which criticised the Chinese government’s policies, including the territorial dispute with Japan over the Daioyu Islands. Dr Jiao had been placed under strict house arrest and surveillance since 6 September 2012, when he was banned from travelling to the 78th PEN International Congress in Gyeongju, South Korea, at which he was registered to attend.

As a result of long time surveillance and harassment Mr. Guobiao left China for Europe in 2006, and was ICORN guest writer in Norwich in 2008. After his Norwich residence he returned to China, continuing his work as writer and journalist, frequently suffering from harassment and persecution from the Chinese Authorities, including being placed under strict house arrest since 6 September 2012.