‘Activist’ Flees China on Water Scooter to South Korea

Last week, South Korea's Coast Guard detained a Chinese man on its west coast. He's suspected of traveling from China's eastern Shandong province to South Korea—over a 180-mile journey across the sea on a jet ski. He carried only a helmet, a compass, and five barrels of fuel to ensure he could complete the long trip. Upon arrival in South Korea, he got stuck on the muddy shore, called an emergency line for help, and taken into custody. The Coast Guard did not identify the man, but a South Korean activist and human rights group identified him as Chinese activist Kwon Pyong. Kwon was previously jailed for criticizing Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping when he tweeted a photo in 2016 while wearing a T-shirt decorated with mocking names for Xi. NTD cannot independently verify his identity. The Chinese embassy declined to comment.