This article introduces a Sankei Shimbun report of May 18, 2020, on China’s suppression of speech before the opening of the National People’s Congress. It discusses the detention of scholars, journalists, and poets critical of the Communist Party regime, including the disappearance of Zhang Zhan, who had been investigating the infection situation in Wuhan, as well as censorship and fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections.

2020-05-18
In addition, according to a group of Chinese human-rights lawyers, Zhang Zhan, a journalist from Shanghai who had been investigating the infection situation in Wuhan, Hubei Province, disappeared on the 14th.
She is believed to have been detained by the police authorities.
The following is from an article published in today’s Sankei Shimbun under the title “China Suppresses Speech before the National People’s Congress.”
A Series of Detentions　Authorities Wary of Criticism over the Coronavirus
【Beijing = Yoshiaki Nishimi】
Ahead of the opening in Beijing on the 22nd of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, detentions of scholars, journalists, and others critical of the Communist Party regime are occurring one after another inside China.
Around the time of the National People’s Congress each year, speech control by the authorities is strengthened, but this year, in response to the spread of the new coronavirus, dissatisfaction and criticism of the regime have spread both inside and outside the party, and the Xi Jinping leadership is on edge.
Concerns over a second wave of infection are also strong, and it is likely to become a “sealed-off” meeting that greatly restricts on-site reporting by domestic and foreign journalists.
“The local government of Wuhan concealed the infection situation for a long period and harshly suppressed citizens who tried to disseminate information.”
Zhang Xuezhong, a legal scholar living in Shanghai, published an open letter addressed to delegates of the National People’s Congress on the internet on the 10th, harshly criticizing the authorities’ response.
Zhang pointed out that the reason benefits are not being paid to the people in China is that “government officials are not chosen by election, and it is easier for them to ignore the appeals of the people.”
In addition to demanding the establishment of implementation rules for ordinary elections, he presented a draft constitution specifying, among other things, the direct popular election of national leaders.
In the early hours of the day after the announcement, Zhang was temporarily detained by the police authorities.
In addition, according to a group of Chinese human-rights lawyers, Zhang Zhan, a journalist from Shanghai who had been investigating the infection situation in Wuhan, Hubei Province, disappeared on the 14th.
She is believed to have been detained by the police authorities.
Furthermore, Hong Kong media and others reported that Lu Yang, a poet in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, who had been calling for freedom of speech, was detained on the 1st on suspicion of subversion of state power.
It is not only the so-called democracy camp that Chinese authorities are watching closely.
In response to the tragedy of the spread of infection in Wuhan, even among conservatives and leftists who form the support base of the Xi leadership, “claims that this was a man-made disaster and voices saying that diverse opinions should be recognized are spreading,” according to a Chinese journalist in Beijing.
Furthermore, if a second wave of infection expands on the occasion of the National People’s Congress, the Xi leadership could face severe criticism.
The authorities plan to shorten the session, which is normally more than 10 days, to one week, and to greatly restrict reporting opportunities for domestic and foreign journalists, about 3,000 of whom participate in an ordinary year, switching instead to reporting through video distribution and other means.