Political dissident who fled China arrives in Canada, his friend says

A Chinese governmental dissident who fled to South Korea last period successful a dinghy has arrived successful Canada, his person said connected societal media Saturday.

Dong Guangping was aboard a 10.8-foot inflatable vessel successful the waters disconnected a occidental South Korean land successful May erstwhile helium was detained by South Korea's seashore defender for allegedly violating the country's migration law. It was his 4th known effort to fly China.

Dong, a erstwhile constabulary serviceman successful China, had antecedently been detained respective times for his activism. He was imprisoned for 3 years successful 2001 for "inciting subversion of authorities power" and spent much than 8 months down bars aft being arrested successful 2014 for participating successful a memorial for victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to past statements from Amnesty International.

He antecedently escaped to Thailand and Vietnam, but authorities determination deported him backmost to China. Dong besides unsuccessfully tried to aquatics to a Taiwanese island.

At a tribunal proceeding successful South Korea aft his arrest, helium told reporters that helium hopes to spell to Canada to reunite with his woman and daughters, who person already been resettled there, according to South Korean media.

In a station Saturday connected X, his person Sheng Xue, a Chinese Canadian activist, said Dong had landed successful Toronto pursuing an Air Canada formation connected Friday.

"He conscionable had a large vessel of noodles with eggs, tomatoes and shrimps," she wrote successful the post, adding that she has spent much than 10 years trying to get him retired of China.

She attached a photograph of Dong successful a car with her and different photograph of Dong holding a bowl.

Xue wrote Saturday successful a follow-up post, "In the process of fleeing for his beingness much than 10 times implicit a decade, risking his beingness and facing changeless failures, helium has ne'er uttered a azygous connection of ailment oregon discouragement."

She added, "Souls that emotion state are afloat of strength."

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not instantly commented.

In:

• South Korea
• China