2026-10-20
On October 20, police in Wanzai County, Jiangxi, criminally detained environmental volunteers Zhang Wenbin, Luo Wenbin, and Xiong Qu on suspicion of extortion. Zhang Wenbin was taken away across provinces in Urumqi. Zhang had previously exposed pollution risks at the Nanshi Lithium Industry lithium slag dump in 2023, after which the company repaired the dump. Sources say the detention is related to the exposure. Another volunteer who intended to go to Wanzai for investigation was dissuaded by police via phone.