Xin Haonian: The 'Award Ceremony for Wang Bingzhang' Shrouded in Espionage
The "Award Ceremony for Wang Bingzhang" shrouded in suspicion
Xin Haonian On Friday, June 25, 2004, the quarterly Chinese historical and cultural magazine "Huanghuagang Magazine," founded and edited by Xin Haonian, presented the first "Huanghuagang Spirit Award" to the renowned Dr. Wang Bingzhang at the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall of the Republic of China in San Francisco. This occasion marked the second anniversary of Dr. Wang Bingzhang's abduction abroad by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and his subsequent sentencing to life imprisonment. The dictator declared, "Wang Bingzhang will rot in prison!" Thus, this doctor, who pioneered the great cause of the contemporary Chinese democracy movement, became an eternal prisoner in the Communist Party's "Bastille." Subsequently, facing the heartless and unjust decision by some major leaders of the overseas democracy movement to hold a "secret" meeting and resolve, "Wang Bingzhang has poor character and is genuinely anti-communist, so we will not rescue him," Huanghuagang Magazine began planning to present the first "Huanghuagang Spirit Award" to Dr. Wang Bingzhang. When the news spread, some democracy activists immediately threatened, demanding that the award "can only be given to whom, and not to whom"; some democracy organizations, such as the "China Democracy and Justice Party" founded by Wang Bingzhang himself, openly opposed awarding the prize to Wang Bingzhang, spreading rumors that "Xin Haonian is a CCP agent and it was Xin who sold out Wang Bingzhang"; still other democracy organizations and individuals repeatedly demanded that "Huanghuagang" only invite Ms. Zhang Qi, Wang Bingzhang's "fiancée," to accept the award, and absolutely not invite Wang Bingzhang's family, threatening dire consequences otherwise. This forced "Huanghuagang Magazine" to postpone the award ceremony for a full year.
A year later, due to various controversies involving Wang Bingzhang within the overseas democracy movement, most of which were concentrated in the New York area, the award ceremony had to be held in conjunction with the democracy movement's events. To avoid being perceived as creating a "confrontation" with the upcoming "Global Democracy Movement Conference" in New York, and to alleviate the dilemma of some New York democracy activists who were in a difficult position whether to invite or not invite, especially considering the significant security concerns of holding the event in New York, and given that "Huanghuagang Magazine" is not a democracy movement organization, it was decided to hold the award ceremony in San Francisco. After all, in terms of "democracy movement style," New York is known for its immediate and overt conflicts, while San Francisco, though "insidiously treacherous, appears outwardly harmonious." Therefore, for the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of the event, San Francisco was deemed the better choice.
With this thought, Mr. Xin seemed somewhat relieved. However, he never imagined that upon arriving in San Francisco and driving to the Holiday Inn in Chinatown, the hotel's computer would have no record whatsoever to prove that the 15 rooms they had booked 20 days in advance, and for which full payment had been made, existed!
Xin Haonian immediately called Mr. Guo Ping, a Taiwanese democracy activist in San Francisco who was preparing for the event. Mr. Guo was stunned and promised to investigate immediately. Meanwhile, Xin could only stand foolishly in the dimly lit hotel lobby, leaning on the handles of his luggage cart, feeling as if dark clouds were gathering overhead. Although the hotel provided Xin Haonian with a room for the night, it wasn't until the next morning that the hotel chain's headquarters confirmed "the matter indeed occurred," but the registration and payment records had mysteriously disappeared.
Just as one problem was resolved, another arose: Guo Ping informed Xin Haonian that two days before his arrival in San Francisco, he was suddenly notified to attend a "planning meeting that came out of nowhere." This "planning meeting," whose origin was unknown, not only "overturned" the decision made on May 27th during Xin Haonian's final preparatory conference call regarding reception arrangements, but also "decided" that a "democracy activist" named Zhang Zhongchun from San Francisco would be responsible for all reception tasks. He even demanded that Guo Ping rent him a minivan and keep it at his home, exclusively for his use in picking up and dropping off "all attendees" at the airport and hotel. But who was this Mr. Zhang Zhongchun? What was his connection to our award ceremony? Moreover, the reception team members had already been selected; how could a "planning meeting" and a Mr. Zhang Zhongchun suddenly appear? And why would he be responsible for picking up and dropping off "every attendee"? Fearing that the award ceremony might not proceed smoothly, Xin Haonian quickly made the decision to "uphold the original preparatory meeting's decision and not assign any reception tasks to the pseudo-planning meeting or the democracy activist Zhang Zhongchun." However, his concern for the safety of the attendees added to his anxiety.
Unexpectedly, even more troublesome and mysterious events followed. A few days before Xin Haonian was to travel, Mr. Wei Quanbao, a democracy activist from New York, suddenly called Mr. Xin, saying, "Wang Bingzhang's fiancée, Zhang Qi, insists on attending the meeting, and you must agree."
However, Wang Bingzhang's elder sister called and said, "Zhang Qi says she will not attend this award ceremony at all, although she needs to go to San Francisco for medical treatment at that time..." After Xin Haonian arrived in San Francisco, democracy activists immediately demanded that Xin Haonian say, "Zhang Qi is not a troublemaker and should be invited"; Mr. Yang Haiping, a prominent overseas Chinese leader, conveyed a message from Zhang Qi's brother-in-law, the democracy lawyer Mr. Liu Junguo, warning Huanghuagang Magazine and Xin Haonian, "If anyone dares to disrespect Zhang Qi at the award ceremony on the 25th, we will resort to legal action and sue Huanghuagang Magazine"; others continuously relayed messages from both sides, seemingly eager to stir up trouble.
Faced with this situation, Xin Haonian simply stated, "We welcome Zhang Qi, but we do not invite Zhang Qi." As long as she still considers herself Wang Bingzhang's fiancée, and as long as she and her relatives believe we are doing a good deed for her fiancé, then they should understand that they must not disrupt, threaten, or even sabotage the award ceremony for Wang Bingzhang... If they have any grievances, and when Dr. Wang is released and seeks accountability, I, Xin Haonian, will bear all the blame.
In the ensuing continuous entanglement, he finally spoke harshly, "I hope someone can convey to those people that if anyone truly intends to cause trouble at this award ceremony, we will simply escalate the matter and take this opportunity to expose everything thoroughly..." This was because he had long harbored suspicions about Zhang Qi – her identity as a spy was proven not long after! She was one of those "democracy activists" who accompanied Dr. Wang Bingzhang in Southeast Asia and delivered Wang to Vietnam, where he was abducted by the CCP! He also knew that her elder sister, Yan Qingxin, was a high-ranking CCP agent – not only was official information provided, but she later proudly admitted it herself! As for the democracy activist Liu Jianguo – the husband of this high-ranking female CCP spy – let's not even discuss him! However, it was also during these days that unknown informants specifically delivered official materials exposing CCP spies to him, saying that if someone were to cause trouble at that time, they would be present and would help...
Late on the night of June 25th, San Francisco had long since gone to sleep. Xin Haonian, however, was awake. He stood by the slightly ajar window, looking out at the nearby mountains and distant waters in the night, the flickering lights, the few lazy neon signs not far away, and especially the vast expanse of sky and sea that grew deeper and more ethereal the farther away they were. The cards in his hand felt cool and moist, as if they had absorbed the night dew. He had just drafted the agenda for the next day's meeting – a "procedure" that would surely puzzle others. He decided to begin the award ceremony the next day with a "Press Conference for Wang Bingzhang's Family" as the first item. Then, after Wang Bingzhang's relatives had set the emotional tone of the meeting with their speeches and tears at its peak, he would suddenly announce the award – completing the primary mission of the award ceremony first, then inviting everyone to speak and express their feelings, and finally raising the curtain on the "Great Republic of China National Defense and Law Protection History Symposium." By then, even if someone wanted to cause trouble, it would not matter!
The next day, as per Xin Haonian's arrangement, the award ceremony for Wang Bingzhang was indeed quickly completed. Xin Haonian, who had been sitting in the audience, felt his heart suddenly settle. Because the main event was over. The award photos had been captured by journalists' cameras amidst the dazzling flashes, and the tears and passion at the award ceremony had already surged through the hearts of the reporters and all attendees... Now, it was time for Wang Bingzhang's old comrades-in-arms to share their thoughts, and for the "Great Republic of China National Defense and Law Protection Symposium" to commence in a "symphonic performance."
During this time, prominent overseas Chinese leaders took the stage one by one to congratulate the assembly, old comrades-in-arms stepped forward one by one to recount stories of their friend Wang Bingzhang, and speakers stood at the microphone one after another, boldly discussing their new understanding of "the future of the Republic of China and its national defense and law protection"... This symphony, this interplay, further connected their hearts with all the attendees in the audience... And Wang Bingzhang's character, Wang Bingzhang's struggles, Wang Bingzhang's suffering, and Wang Bingzhang's perseverance were like a completely new image of a republican warrior, a true image belonging to Wang Bingzhang, being woven anew in people's hearts...
The overseas Chinese said, "For many years, in San Francisco, which has been most deeply infiltrated by the CCP, when has such an inspiring meeting ever been held? It has restored people's confidence in the Great Republic of China."
Some upright friends from the democracy movement said, "In San Francisco, a meeting of such scale, passion, determination, and thorough anti-communist sentiment has not been held for many years."
Xin Haonian thought to himself, "My friend, I have finally lived up to you; as for where I have failed you, you can scold me when you return – we did not invite your 'fiancée,' and she did not come..." Ms. Zhang Qi did not come, nor did her relatives. However, the democracy activist Mr. Zhang Zhongchun did come. Mr. Zhang, regardless of the cold reception from anyone, cheerfully moved around inside and outside the venue.
He came, he went through, he even stood on the threshold, and he struck up conversations with acquaintances and strangers alike, asking every attendee probing questions. As a result, two young women attending the event found Ms. Ma Peihua, the female president of the Huanghuagang Magazine, who "scolded him." The president was stunned at first, then quickly said: "What's so difficult about that? I'll tell him to leave – because we don't welcome him!" Mr. Zhang had to leave sheepishly. The president had offended someone on behalf of her editor-in-chief.
However, Zhang Zhongchun didn't really leave. Although he was absent from the dinner table that evening, he sat in his car until midnight, parked not far from the Holiday Inn. Some said, "Everyone who came and went from the Holiday Inn could not escape his eyes." It wasn't until 1:40 AM, when Mr. Qian and Mr. Mo from the reception team, and Lu Yun, an editor from Huanghuagang Magazine, walked outside the hotel to smoke and chat, that they discovered a mysterious car and heard mysterious voices... Later facts proved their suspicions were not unfounded – because Zhang Zhongchun, a democracy activist, was soon arrested and sentenced by the US judicial system for "Chinese Communist spy charges." After serving his sentence, he found a job in a US government agency and started his new life.
After Huanghuagang Magazine successfully awarded Wang Bingzhang, Xin Haonian was suddenly subjected to vicious online attacks. Democracy activists who cared about him warned him that by speaking up for Wang, he would inevitably offend "too many" big shots in the democracy movement. Therefore, Xin, who had always only had friendships with the democracy movement but no involvement, felt as if he had offended the entire world. This time, he personally experienced the power of the "pro-communist reform" evil forces overseas, and he could now understand the "infinite difficulties and hardships" that Wang Bingzhang had faced before in his pursuit of "revolution and anti-communism." And these "infinite difficulties and hardships" were surely waiting for him.
But, as Xin said, he was not afraid! For the next twenty years, during the arduous years when Xin Haonian wrote articles, published magazines, organized activities, and promoted the "Democratic Restoration Movement" with 300 lectures across Europe, America, and Australia, whenever and wherever he could vindicate Wang Bingzhang, he would vindicate Wang Bingzhang; whenever he could appeal for Wang Bingzhang, he would appeal for Wang Bingzhang; whenever he could clear Wang Bingzhang's name, he would clear Wang Bingzhang's name; whenever he could do something for Wang Bingzhang, he would do something for Wang Bingzhang... There was no other reason than that Wang Bingzhang had finally embarked on the great and correct path of revolutionary democratic restoration after twenty years of arduous struggle, and Xin Haonian was willing to do so; only because for such a long time – at least seventeen years – not only the democracy activists, but even Wang Bingzhang's so-called old comrades-in-arms, no one dared to openly stand up and shout for Wang Bingzhang – therefore, for Wang Bingzhang, Xin Haonian could only willingly dedicate himself! As for the insults, rumors, and frame-ups that he has suffered from the democracy movement for over twenty years, until today, for Wang Bingzhang, he can only share them with his friends when they finally emerge from the Chinese Communists' "Bastille"! (Excerpt from Xin Haonian's article "Huanghuagang Eternal, Wang Bingzhang's Ten Thousand Difficulties," published under the pseudonym Mo Qian in Huanghuagang Magazine in 2024).📷