ChinaAid President Bob Fu Raises Alarm Over Jailed Pastor Wang Yi's Health as Family Seeks Answers
MIDLAND, Texas — Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, founder and president of the Christian human rights organization ChinaAid, told Fox News in an interview that reports concerning Pastor Wang Yi's health are 'very worrying,' citing information received from multiple sources inside China. Wang, the founding pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, has been imprisoned since December 2018 and is serving a nine-year sentence on charges of inciting subversion of state power and illegal business operations.
Fu said he believes reports that Wang may be suffering from advanced liver cancer are credible, while acknowledging that ChinaAid has 'not been able to really independently verify' them, citing restrictions on access to Wang and the absence of an independent medical examination. The organization first publicly raised concerns about Wang's condition on September 28, calling on authorities to provide his family with access to him and disclose information about his medical treatment. According to Fu, prison officials said by telephone that a medical examination conducted on October 1 indicated Wang was in good health; however, his family has not been permitted a new in-person visit to independently assess his condition.
In an October 3 open letter, Early Rain Covenant Church acknowledged the reports but said it could not determine whether Wang had fallen ill. The church called on prison authorities to permit regular family visits, correspondence and telephone calls, and to provide information about any necessary medical care. According to the church and Fu, Wang's family has been permitted fewer than five visits during nearly eight years of imprisonment. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom lists Wang as a religious prisoner of conscience, and the U.S. State Department condemned his 2019 conviction, describing the prosecution as connected to his peaceful advocacy for religious freedom and calling for his release.
Source: Compiled from Fox News' interview with Bob Fu and Early Rain Covenant Church's October 3 open letter. The reports about Wang's health have not been independently verified.
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Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Chengdu 市景（资料图），王怡创办的秋雨圣约教会位于 Chengdu。图片来源：Yun Free Stock Photos（免费素材站许可）。Photo: Chengdu cityscape (file photo), where Wang Yi founded Early Rain Covenant Church. Image: Yun Free Stock Photos.
