1 Million Chinese Citizens Apply for Asylum During Xi’s Rule, As Repression Increases

In the 12 years since Xi Jinping became the leader of China, the number of Chinese citizens applying for asylum abroad has surpassed one million.

According to data compiled by the international human rights organization Safeguard Defenders, based on UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) statistics, 1,158,739 Chinese nationals applied for asylum between 2012 and 2024, including preliminary figures for 2024. On Monday, Safeguard Defenders highlighted that over one million Chinese applied for asylum during Xi Jinping’s time in power, showing a clear trend reflected in UNHCR statistics.

The number of asylum applications has surged by 1,426%, from 12,362 in 2012, the first year of Xi’s rule, to the preliminary figure of 176,239 for 2024.

Notably, the number of asylum seekers in 2022 alone matched the total number of applications filed during the 10-year tenure of Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao. Xi Jinping assumed office as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party on November 15, 2012, becoming the country’s top political leader. Safeguard Defenders predicts that 2024 will set a record for the highest number of asylum applications, emphasizing that this trend demonstrates that China’s human rights repression is not merely a domestic issue. While some asylum seekers have succeeded in securing asylum, the organization noted that Chinese nationals are forcibly repatriated from certain countries that maintain friendly relations with the Chinese government.

The United States emerged as the top destination for asylum applications, followed by Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The Chinese government has faced international criticism for arresting and detaining activists, artists, and journalists who criticized the Communist Party or supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. Numerous cases of individuals who opposed government policies being silenced have also come to light, highlighting a significant suppression of freedom of expression.