Taiwanese Youngster Arrested by the PLA Out of the Blue and Interrogated for 2 Days

Going on a “grand tour” on a bicycle is now a popular adventure choice for youngsters who seek to challenge themselves. Taiwanese cyclist Allen Cao made history in late July when he became the first Asian solo rider to ever traverse across Mongolia. Recently, he revealed that he was arrested without reason by the People's Liberation Army at the Inner Mongolia border, and was detained in a military base for a closed-door, 2-day interrogation marathon. 

His phone and passport were seized, including all his passwords and personal correspondence records. The experience shook him to the core. Although he eventually returned to safety, as someone who has always been indifferent to politics he still feels the obligation to warn people about the inhumane tactics used by Chinese government officials. Therefore, he has come forward with a detailed account of his experience. Cao remarked on Facebook, "Until I personally experienced it, I thought it could only happen in movies." 

The first-ever arrest for the seasoned traveller of China 

As a cyclist with more than 10 years of experience, Allen Cao has travelled through Southern China, India and the Indochina Peninsula. This year in May during a break in career transition, he decided to take on the challenge of traversing across Mongolia by himself. On May 25th he flew to Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of China. However, upon arrival at New Barag Youqi port to enter Mongolia, he was arrested by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). 

After sharing his own experiences, Cao was doubted by many netizens, as "everything happens for a reason". He emphasized that he did not do anything illegal, and after arriving in Inner Mongolia he had been checked by the Chinese Public Security multiple times without any issue. The only thing was some Chinese-Mongolian ports are only open seasonally, and some are strictly for trading, therefore even mapping apps do not provide comprehensive information about them. These ports are also not well known among locals, so he had no choice but to try his luck, one by one. 

Cao recalled, after his last security check he was just resting on the roadside when a PLA jeep drove up to him. Without explanation, officers with guns and military badges demanded he get into the vehicle and forced him to hand over all his travel documents and phone. Cao was absolutely petrified, and anxious his cycling equipment could be damaged. He said, "I was very cooperative." 

No Stone Left Unturned

They stopped outside a military camp, where the building had slogans like "Obedience to the Party's Commands Leads to Victory and Excellence of Character”. Cao claimed that at least seven or eight officers scattered his belongings on the ground for inspection and confiscated his two phones, SD cards, passport and Mainland travel permit. They emphasized that all his social media accounts and chat records, of which he provided access and passwords, were being searched for any "sensitive language". Surprisingly, the officers could access applications blocked by the Chinese internet firewall without a VPN. 

Cao said the PLA did a very thorough inspection with a rotation of personnel. He waited in the freezing cold while it was done. When the inspection was over, he was transported elsewhere, but the officers would not reveal the location, and changed the subject when he asked.

The second stop after his "arrest", Cao was taken into custody by the seemingly highest ranked "Director" of the Security Bureau and was interrogated. This "Director" was ill-tempered. He was probing about Cao's family background, including the hospital where he was born, the names and periods of study at the schools he attended from kindergarten to university, the names of his family and friends, workplace, residence leaving no stone left unturned.

With even the slightest hesitation, the "Director" would howl at him and make threats saying, "We'll keep you here and jail you forever, we'll make sure you never return home again!” It made him very anxious.  

Exposing the secret interrogation methods of the police battalion 

Later that night, the Security Bureau once again transferred Cao to another location accompanied by a senior official from another bureau and drove him to a "police battalion" somewhere. Cao recalled, this senior official appeared to be so high in rank that even the "Director" was deferential to him. However, this senior official was very mild-mannered and merely stated to Cao, "Your special status is why we have to investigate this way". In early morning, he even ordered his subordinates to buy Cao a big breakfast and ensured that Cao was not “mistreated". However, Cao was so fearful that he was "in no mood to eat". Cao also said, his phone was returned to him and was even given permission to charge it, but on the other hand he was warned not to contact anyone or delete any files.     

At the police battalion, he was taken into the "interrogation room", enclosed by four empty walls. His limbs were all cuffed to the chair, and sitting before him were several officers, clerks, multiple cameras and lights so bright that he could not see their faces. The interrogation by the battalion was even more detailed than the one by the PLA. Apart from his background information and all his contacts, the satellite images from his Google Maps app, which he frequently used in Taiwan, were all recorded as evidence. Whenever he showed hesitation in answering questions, the interrogator would slap the desk and scold him loudly. During the interrogation, not only was sensitive personal information extracted, but also irrelevant questions about his favourite food, which made it difficult for him to remember all the details.

Cao remarked, apart from the interview, the Chinese authorities also constantly searched through his phone to "collect evidence". He noted how his phone went from fully charged to 24% in an hour, which made him question, "My phone is a newly bought flagship phone. What did they do to my phone? Why would the battery drop so quickly?" 

"Where are the captured Chinese spies?" 

After one whole day, the Chinese authorities still refused to let Cao go and two interrogators who appeared to be government officials showed up. Cao recalled the two officials interviewed him extensively and asked about the social policies of Taiwan, eg. labor and health insurance, national annuity, military conscription system, and the responsibilities and powers of the Legislature. Cao tried to diffuse the tension with an easier tone, but the officials could not contain their suspicion and anger, and pursued him with questions like: "What is your code name?”; "Are you involved in gathering intelligence?”; "Do you participate in the independence of Taiwan?" etc. He was even asked “the whereabouts of captured Chinese spies”, clearly regarding him as a spy.

After rounds of interrogation and inspection of his phone, they began pressing Cao to state his stand on Sino-Taiwanese relations. They asked if he was plotting a rebellion because he was holding a Taiwanese passport and whether he supported “the insurgent” Tsai Ing-Wen, current President of Taiwan. At this point, Cao was very worried he could “go missing” so he talked enthusiastically about the reunification of Taiwan and China, and supported the idea of “One China”. Under tremendous pressure, he transformed into a “patriotic youth”, besides he did not usually expressed his political views anyway so in the end, he was let go.

Before he was allowed to leave, the Chinese authorities made Cao sign "numerous documents". Among them were documents about "voluntary interrogation"and "infringing national security laws". He even had to declare his ethnicity, language and whether he was willing to join the People's Republic of China. He also managed to steal a glimpse of the military camp code: 3XX Brigade Camp 12.

Eventually, the People's Liberation Army transported him back to the place where he was arrested, and even said to him, "Congratulations, you can carry on now." That was when he felt sure that he was out of the woods.     

Strikingly similar methods used during Simon Cheng's interrogation show the lack of concern for human rights in China

Cao stated that he had traveled extensively in China many times, and understood common taboos and customs about when to not photograph. He was still astonished by his "accidental" arrest. Having heard recent news about Hong Kong British Consulate-General employee Simon Cheng being framed for “hiring a prostitute”, Cao thought "the details were strikingly similar" to his case; including the arrest without evidence, relentless interrogation, seizure of information and isolation from external contact. The public’s focus on these unfounded allegations of "hiring a prostitute" or "infringing national security” reflects the lack of concern for human rights in China.  

Cao also divulged that, when he entered the border at Xinjiang, he was clearly "put on record” as the Chinese Public Security searched him once more, and immediately sent him off from the Takeshiken Port straight back to Urumqi. In addition, they demanded that he instantly buy an air ticket home. During the few days before his flight, they even stipulated that he stay in a designated hostel where he was monitored daily. Cao described the atmosphere in Xinjiang as very eerie. Although he was physically unharmed, he felt uncomfortable and did not desire to linger for too long. 

Cao said, upon release he did not wish to give up on his plans, and since the final destination of his journey was in Xinjiang, he chose not to disclose these events until recently. However, this disclosure led to much skepticism and denunciation, so much so that he was even harassed on the streets. He experienced insomnia and lost 4-5 kg in a week under this crushing weight of psychological pressure. 

Nonetheless, Cao emphasized that this was only his personal experience, and never stated that "every Taiwanese would receive the same treatment". He believed that in democratic Taiwan, people have the freedom to make their own choices but they must also shoulder the consequences of their actions. He thought recent events in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement show that violence and brutality reported in these regions are often subjected to doubts and often denounced as "smear campaigns and fake news". This made him realize that “to most, these stories are just that. Only when they can experience them personally will people understand they are more than legends.”

Source : The Storm Media, November 2019