China charges ‘Ink Girl’ supporter with subversion as room for dissent narrows further

Ou Biaofeng had expressed support for Dong Yaoqiong, who was held in a psychiatric facility for splashing ink on a picture of Xi Jinping

His friend and fellow activist Li Xuewen says the charge is an act of ‘retribution for years of resistance’

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Ou Biaofeng, 40, pictured with a copy of the now defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily. Photo: Handout

Published: 11:34am, 1 Aug 2021Updated: 2:05pm, 25 Aug 2021

A Chinese activist who has spent the last eight months in detention has been charged with subversion in another sign of the shrinking space for dissent in China.

Ou Biaofeng, 40, from Hunan province, is known for his support for Dong Yaoqiong, also known as “Ink Girl”, who was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric facility at least twice after sharing a video of herself splashing ink on a portrait of President Xi Jinping.

He also spoke out about the anti-government protests in Hong Kong and voiced his support for the now defunct newspaper Apple Daily .

Ou’s wife, Wei Huanhuan, received his arrest order for “inciting subversion of state power” on Tuesday evening.

Ou was first detained in December last year for “picking quarrels and causing trouble” which was later changed to the subversion charge. Both are common charges used against dissidents in China, but subversion carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment.

Ou’s friend Li Xuewen, a dissident writer based in Wuhan, said the more serious subversion charge was likely due to his support of Dong.