Feng Zhenghu has decided to end his protest at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo today (Wednesday). 

 

The Chinese dissident is an economist, a former university professor and a self-taught lawyer from Shanghai. He has been living at the airport for almost three months—surviving on food given to him by passing travelers.

 

Feng decided to visit his sister in Japan last April, just after being released by Chinese authorities. He had been held without charge for several weeks. 

 

Over the past 20 years, Chinese authorities have interrogated and arrested him, repeatedly. 

They convicted him for so called “illegal business practices” because he wrote a book about Japanese businesses operating in mainland China. Feng has spent a total of three years in jail.

 

When he tried to return to China last July, he reached Shanghai only to be sent back to Japan. He tried to reenter China at least eight times last year, but was refused entry every time.

 

The final straw for Feng was in November last year.  After being forced onto a flight from Shanghai Airport, he arrived back at Narita Airport, sat down opposite the immigration desks and decided to camp out there to protest.

 

[Feng Zhenghu, Chinese Dissident]:

"When I first arrived here, it was because the local (Chinese) authorities used violent methods, working with the local aviation employees, they kidnapped me. While I was here, I wanted to express my objection against Shanghai authorities and bring the Chinese government's attention to the importance of this matter."

 

Diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo have visited Feng three times. Although they did not give him any guarantees, Feng says he believes he will be able to return to Shanghai before the Chinese New Year, on February 14. 

 

[Feng Zhenghu, Chinese Dissident]:

“Also, it is the right of a Chinese citizen to go back to his country, so I should end this abnormal way of living and enter Japan and from there try to return to China."

 

Feng has been living at the airport with his laptop and cell phone, receiving as many as 1500 emails and about 20 phone calls a day from supporters.

 

He says he will cross through Japan immigration today, and visit his sister before returning to China.