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I'm an Alabama Native. I've lived overseas in a variety of countries for about 12 years. I've spent about 7 of those years in China, with the balance in other countries within Asia.
As far as other background information, I've a wife of five years, average university education, and a wide variety of teaching experience in a variety of countries. From Turkey to Korea, Mongolia and China, even including Saudi Arabia for a stint.
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After my background there's this rather rapidly degenerating story.
My wife and I had just returned from her hometown on Guangxi, China for a Christmas celebration with her family.
My wife and I had just returned from her hometown on Guangxi, China for a Christmas celebration with her family.
The day that I arrived back, a number of teachers had apparently begun to be interrogated by Chinese secret police in relation to a number of no postings on Twitter linking our foreign vice principal to Free HongKong posts on Twitter.
I only saw a few of the posts, they themselves advocated for support of this or that cause, such as free Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang. I'm using Xinjiang as an inferred example, just trying to extrapolate the terror of 4 hours plus of interrogation at school that was to follow.
I was invited to a meeting, two well dressed Chinese agents introduced themselves as 'police' and one as a 'detective'.
Both gentlemen were dressed quote well to be cops, but then proceeded for more than four hours of Good cop and bad cop questioning.
Both gentlemen were dressed quote well to be cops, but then proceeded for more than four hours of Good cop and bad cop questioning.
Accusing me, and apparently others of the equivalent to fraudulently posing as another person to politically destabilize the Chinese Communist party.
They asked me to name names, intimated that I could go to prison for a long time if I lied to them, and declared that they thought I shouldn't lie in this regard.
I speak and understand bits of Chinese, so the discussions they had were not quite nice about me.
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The interrogation was set up in a large meeting room with a Central table that extended for about 5 meters through the center of the room, along with secondary observation tables on either side of the room. The room could seat probably 40 people comfortably.
Sitting across from me, was the two 'police' and to my right side was the admin for the Academic section of our school and next to her was one of the principals.
I was asked dozens of questions Bout whether or not I did anything that could be considered a political crime, if I knew who Would have done so, and if I had any guess to whether or not the principal was anti China in stance.
I had nothing to do with any of the proceeding, beyond a mate having shared what he thought to be a funny Twitter link via IM. I honestly had no idea if it was that important. I showed one fellow teacher and we both agreed that it looked fake.
Some background info on the principal, he's locally married in China with a friend new kid.
Not likely to post something like that to jeopardize his career.
During this interrogation, they took two of my devices, one a phone and another an iPad.
Not likely to post something like that to jeopardize his career.
During this interrogation, they took two of my devices, one a phone and another an iPad.
They had me unlock both devices.
My phone had some kind of software installed in it, I cleared that out as soon as I could later after midnight.
My phone had some kind of software installed in it, I cleared that out as soon as I could later after midnight.
My iPad seemed okay, but one of the groups I use through an email listserv seemed to have been a focus for them, since it was science fictiontion and history and politically oriented. Generally, not concerning China. But hey, VPNs help with that, supposedly.
Anyhow, after being admonished into silence, it was told to go home. Now earlier, during the interrogation, I was told that they would accompany me home to get my computer, but there was no luck with that, apparently that was just a scare tactic.
I was allowed to go home, so I collected my things and went to the office, got my biking gear and then went out to grab my e-bike.
On the way home, a darker-colored sedan followed me for about the 5km distance to my apartment.
On the way home, a darker-colored sedan followed me for about the 5km distance to my apartment.
I got off of my bike, and saw some guys following me. I got in the elevator to go up, there was a pair of professionally dressed Chinese men that did follow me. It was dark, they were wearing dark jackets, dark pants, and probably black shoes.
My apartment was 618, they stopped me at 616, and admonished me not to say anything, or I could find myself as a missing person(disappeared) and my wife could also
Some very negative consequences.
I was very taken aback, absolutely terrified.
Some very negative consequences.
I was very taken aback, absolutely terrified.
I had my wife turn on some music, I barricaded the apartment door and then went to our upstairs bedroom with her..I told her what happened, minus the part about the secret police following me.
I used a series of VPNs and an app called Hushed to make a series of phone calls.
The VPNs help get out of the great firewall.
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The VPNs help get out of the great firewall.
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In this instance, my 50 mbit internet speed was suddenly maybe 5 mbit. VPNs kept cutting out, and there seemed to be recording on my phone, but thankfully things went through.
I called my older sister/cousin, advised her that I was in a spat of trouble and could she please take note of everything, send an email about what my grandmother being in need of help, and could we please come home.
I then called the FBI Birmingham, because more than anything else my mind was fixated on getting home. They referred me to the Department of State.
I provided as much info as possible, they offered a number of possible solutions to the problem. After this, I emailed the consulate in Shanghai.
I chose the fastest solution for my wife and I.
I chose the fastest solution for my wife and I.
Which happened to be a 655 am flight to PEK and then a 3PM flight to LAX.
We took a Chinese DiDi(like Uber) to the PVG airport, then followed up with being extremely nervous for a few hours while we waited on a domestic flight.
We took a Chinese DiDi(like Uber) to the PVG airport, then followed up with being extremely nervous for a few hours while we waited on a domestic flight.
After flying to PEK we then converted cash to USD, acted aBout as paranoid as I've ever been, and then visited the check-in section, made it through check-in.
Customs was okay, followed by the security check.
Customs was okay, followed by the security check.
We waited for three hours until the plane was boarded, notified my cousin that we were on our way, and that things seemed okay.
We were waiting, I was expecting something like the NKVD to stop us and drag us out at any time.
We were waiting, I was expecting something like the NKVD to stop us and drag us out at any time.
We made the flight, in horribly small seats for me, and arrived at LAX. My customs declaration was easy, my wife waited an hour.
We spent 2 nights at a cheap hotel. Spent another 4 hours flying. We got to Atlanta and then flew again to Birmingham.
We spent 2 nights at a cheap hotel. Spent another 4 hours flying. We got to Atlanta and then flew again to Birmingham.
Honestly, I thought I'd never been so happy to exhaustedly welcome the sight of road construction from BHM in my life.
My wife is safe, and I've been at home for 2 days now.
My wife is safe, and I've been at home for 2 days now.
I've experienced ys lot overseas seas before. Love travel and especially the Chinese people, but I can't say I love the government any-more.
Innocent Americans apparently disappear there often enough for there to be a warning.
This is my 2019 post Christmas horror story.
Innocent Americans apparently disappear there often enough for there to be a warning.
This is my 2019 post Christmas horror story.
