China: Elderly Falun Gong practitioners face detention and health crises

Reports indicate increasing pressure on Falun Gong practitioners in China, specifically regarding the detention of elderly individuals with severe health conditions.

In Guangdong province, 64-year-old Chen Xueqing, a retired employee of Shaoguan Steel Group, was reportedly arrested by police in July 2026. Following an initial 15-day administrative detention, she was placed under criminal detention and subsequently formally arrested by the local procuratorate on August 13. Chen has a history of previous imprisonments related to her beliefs.

In Shanxi province, 71-year-old Gao Jiping is reported to be in critical condition after being forcibly sent to Shanxi Women's Prison in June 2026, despite having medical conditions that reportedly made her unfit for incarceration. Doctors have noted she is suffering from end-stage uremia and requires urgent dialysis.

Legal scholar Yuan Hongbing characterized these actions as a manifestation of extreme state violence and totalitarianism, noting that the intensification of crackdowns has not eliminated the movement but has instead highlighted the brutality of the current administration.