Chen Qiushi
Chen Qiushi[a] (born 19 September 1985), also known as Steven Chen, is a Chinese lawyer, activist, and citizen journalist who covered the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests and the COVID-19 pandemic which included criticism of the government response. He went missing on 6 February 2020[1][2] after reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. The Chinese government reportedly informed Chen's family and friends that he has been detained for the purpose of COVID-19 quarantine. Critics, including media freedom groups, have expressed skepticism about government motives, and have unsuccessfully called on the government to allow outside contact with Chen.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.
Chen Qiushi
19 September 1985
6 February 2020
Wuhan, China
Found as of September 2021
Steven Chen
- Lawyer
- activist
- citizen journalist
185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Chen re-emerged in September 2021, but provided no explanation of the circumstances of his disappearance.
Childhood, education and media career[edit]
Chen Qiushi was born 19 September 1985[3] in Daxing'anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang, China, and studied law at Heilongjiang University, graduating in 2007.[4] After graduating, he moved to Beijing, worked in film, television and media, and performed at bars in his spare time.[4] In 2014 he was the runner up in the Beijing TV reality TV show I am a speaker, where contestants give five-minute speeches to an audience and panel of judges.[5][6] He joined Longan Law firm in 2015, where he specialised in intellectual property, labour law and dispute resolution.[7]
Journalism[edit]
Hong Kong protests[edit]
After hearing about the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests in state newspapers, Chen traveled there as a private citizen to see for himself.[8] He posted online videos reporting on the protests in Hong Kong against the 2019 extradition bill, where he countered the government's characterization of the protestors as violent rioters.[9] His videos were described by Western media observers as determinedly neutral. He also attended both pro-Beijing and pro-Hong Kong rallies while refusing to explicitly take a side.[10]
Days after the videos' August 2019 release, he was contacted by Chinese authorities, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice, his legal association and his employer, and he returned home early. His Sina Weibo account, of 740,000 followers, was deleted along with his other social media. Chen described being questioned, recorded, "criticised and educated" about why going to Hong Kong was wrong.[9][8][10] In early October he began posting on YouTube, blocked for many in mainland China, stating that since freedom of speech is a right in the Chinese constitution he must continue.[9]
COVID-19[edit]
After being blocked from Chinese social media for his reports on the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Chen took to YouTube and Twitter to continue his reporting. Chen began reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in China, travelling to Hankou, Wuhan, on 23[11] or 24[12] January 2020, where he interviewed locals and visited various hospitals including Huoshenshan Hospital, which was still under construction at the time. According to Chen, doctors were overworked and there were insufficient medical supplies, but prices of goods were otherwise stable.[12] Chen published a video on 30 January showing crowding in Wuhan hospitals, with many people lying in corridors. Unlike state media reporters, who wore hazmat suits, Chen appeared to have only goggles and a face mask to protect himself.[11] Chen stated,