‘Picking quarrels’: China critics overseas at increasing risk

Authorities in China keep a close eye on citizens, not only at home, but increasingly overseas [File: Alex Plavlevski/EPA]

Wang Jingyou was living in Turkey last year when he found that the 7,000 kilometres (4350 miles) between him and his homeland was no obstacle to an offended Chinese state.

Wang had left China after voicing his support on TikTok for Hong Kong’s democracy protests, but after he questioned the outcome of an Indian-Chinese border clash on social media in February 2021, mainland authorities sprung into action.