Hebei Youth Broadcasting Anti-Communist Messages Via Router, Missing for Days

Recently, in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, a young man recorded a video expressing his political demands. He claimed to have used routers to broadcast a message calling for Xi Jinping to step down, opposing the Chinese Communist Party’s censorship of the internet and control over speech. He has been out of contact for several days, drawing public attention.

The young man’s name is Yan Zhongjian, born in February 1999. Three years ago, he was wanted under the name of a political prisoner, rendering him unable to return home. The police confiscated a OnePlus 5 phone, four routers, a set of laser sound speakers and transmission modules, a photosensitive power controller, and have not returned them.

He opposes the suppression of the people by the Chinese Communist Party. “We need freedom of speech, internet freedom. They implement online and offline persecution and harassment against us, which is an unequal treaty that we will never accept…” He hopes that everyone can understand and see through their (the CCP’s) true colors.

He ran to the fields to inform everyone about this matter. He is a hacker involved in the “tear down the wall” movement, using four routers to broadcast the WiFi name “Xi Jinping step down.” As a result, he was detained in the Qinhuangdao Jilongshan Mental Hospital. He also provided personal information of himself and his family, as well as contact details.

In a personal statement, he wrote, “I need to leave China to truly pursue my youth and career. I need the assistance of human rights organizations. I am tired of lying flat.”

Reporters attempted to contact Yan Zhongjian but did not receive a response. According to information disclosed by netizens, Yan Zhongjian has an account on a platform where he is labeled as the “missing person on the 16th,” but the content of the post is protected. A few days ago, he evaded arrest and hid in a cornfield, sustaining himself on raw corn.

He posted, “Freedom of speech is a lie, people’s democracy is a lie, all rights of the state belong to the people is a lie, claiming to suppress the people under the banner of the people. For freedom, I hope the white paper revolution continues to overthrow the communist bandits. Rebuild the Three Principles of the People of the Republic of China.”

Su Yutong, a freelance writer residing in Germany, posted on the platform on August 16 that upon receiving information from a friend commissioned by the raider youth, he had agreed to ensure that once he lost contact for a certain period, his personal information would be released, calling on all netizens to show concern and support him.

One netizen commented, “Thank you to every brave soul.” Another said, “Praying for the hero’s safety, may God give you wisdom.” And another remarked, “Keep going, awakened Chinese youth.” And yet another added, “The moment of a nationwide anti-persecution is drawing closer. This young man is extraordinary… his knowledge of electronic systems far exceeds that of ordinary people, he is a talented individual, but alas, born in that country… buried and forgotten…”

Zhong Shan, a Chinese-American communication network engineer in Silicon Valley, explained in an interview that broadcasting internal network URLs via routers, if not password-protected, can be accessed by people nearby. With four routers, there may be repeaters (WiFi repeaters), for example, one router covering four basketball courts, each relayed by one, possibly within the range of a parking lot.

“Mobile phones normally prompt for available WiFi connections. When users see the WiFi name, it may already be enticing. Because almost everyone is willing to share WiFi, to see if they can connect to this WiFi for internet access, people will click on it and see the default page. If he expresses his political views on the page, the outside world can see it.”

Zhong Shan believes that the security measures of this practice are not very effective. Some people may understand without saying anything, but inevitably, there are informants. Cyber police use professional equipment, such as software on mobile phones that detects WiFi signal strength. By following this WiFi address, they can locate him. Moreover, monitoring cameras can check for anyone testing signals in the surrounding area within the last 48 to 72 hours.

In terms of power supply, routers require stable electricity. The photosensitive power controller, which is a solar-powered light-emitting panel, automatically charges, providing longer battery life. It cannot be plugged in with a fixed power supply.

As for the laser sound speakers and transmission modules (remote control devices), Zhong Shan speculated that he might have used them to broadcast anti-Communist Party messages. Since China’s parking lots and squares have night markets, one could shout slogans against the Communist Party every 20 minutes, letting people hear but not find the source – this can be achieved through remote control. From a technical perspective, it could be more tightly secured, but nothing is foolproof, following this path, he will eventually be exposed.

In recent years, more and more people have publicly expressed their demands for the overthrow of the Chinese Communist Party, such as the Four Bridges Warrior Peng Zaizhou, the Wanda Square Warrior Chai Song, the Hunan Xinhua Warrior Fang Yirong, and others. Most of them are under control by the CCP, with their whereabouts unknown.

Zhong Shan remarked that university graduates find it challenging to find employment nowadays – there’s just no way out. Without foreign investment, it’s stagnant. Many lone heroes hope to stir up a wave of change, but it feels somewhat bleak and helpless.

“This weekend (August 15) is India’s Independence Day, where people commemorate Rajiv Gandhi and non-violent resistance. They systematically wear down the management, demonstrating it’s not passive. Why not change perspectives and conduct non-violent resistance? These intelligent children should simply leave and not let the CCP exploit them,” he said.