China Detains Journalists Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao Over Sichuan Corruption Report

Police in Chengdu detained two journalists, Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao, after they published a report accusing a senior Communist Party official in Sichuan province of corruption. The detentions happened on February 1, 2026, and local authorities say the reporters spread false information and ran illegal business operations.

Background

Liu Hu has worked as an investigative reporter for years. He gained notice more than a decade ago for stories about wrongdoing by high-level party members and government workers. In 2013, police took him from his home in Chongqing and held him in Beijing on defamation charges. They kept him in a detention center for dangerous criminals. After weeks, officials dropped the case and let him go.

Wu Yingjiao works as a freelance reporter and photographer. She has won awards for her reporting from independent groups. Both have used online platforms like WeChat to share their work when traditional news outlets limit such stories.

China ranks low on press freedom lists. Independent reporters often face pressure from authorities. Since 2012, controls on information have grown tighter. Police use terms like 'criminal coercive measures' for detentions that can last months without trial. At least 123 media workers sit in jail there now.

The latest trouble started with a story these two posted on January 29, 2026. They targeted Pu Fayou, the party secretary of Pujiang County in Sichuan. Their piece claimed he mishandled past events that led to an academic's suicide and now caused business failures through bad decisions.

Key Details

The report appeared on a public WeChat account. It carried the title: 'The Sichuan county party secretary who once drove a professor to death, is now driving investment enterprises to bankruptcy.' Soon after, the post vanished from view.

Before his arrest, Liu Hu shared screenshots online. They showed a text exchange with someone from the Chengdu Commission for Discipline Inspection. That office handles corruption complaints. The message told Liu to file reports through official channels, not post them publicly.

Liu replied that his work was not a formal complaint or tip, so no reminder was needed.

On February 2, the Jinjiang branch of Chengdu Public Security Bureau put out a statement. It described a 50-year-old man surnamed Liu and a 34-year-old surnamed Wu under investigation. Police said they suspected false accusations and illegal business operations. Though names were not given fully, reports from media and rights groups matched them to Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao.

Wu went missing first, on the evening of February 1. Lawyers say Sichuan police took her while she was in Handan, a city in Hebei province. Liu became unreachable around the same time.

Past Work and Recognition

Liu Hu once wrote for a newspaper in Guangzhou. His 2013 case drew wide notice. Rights groups called him a hero for information work. Wu has built a name through freelance pieces and photos that question official actions.

“We are appalled by the detention of Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao. This arrest highlights just how restrictive and hostile China has become toward independent reporting.” – Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF Asia-Pacific advocacy manager

Police statements give few details on the charges. False accusation means claiming crimes without proof. Illegal business operations often covers work outside state-approved media.

What This Means

These detentions fit a pattern of actions against reporters who dig into local officials. In Sichuan, Pujiang County handles investments and development. Claims in the report point to economic losses from decisions by Pu Fayou. If true, they show risks for businesses under party control.

Reporters now face quick police response to online posts. WeChat, a main platform for news, removes content fast under government rules. This leaves little space for checks on power.

Friends and lawyers of the detained pair worry about their health and access to lawyers. In past cases, detainees wait months before court dates. Families get limited updates.

The case tests how far officials go to shield leaders from scrutiny. Pu Fayou holds a key post in a province that drives China's growth. Questions about his role could affect local trust and investment.

Rights groups call for release. They say such moves harm China's image abroad. Foreign media face more limits too, with visa denials and expulsions rising.

Independent voices grow rarer. Reporters turn to coded language or overseas sites, but police track them. This story shows the cost of one report: two careers on hold, charges that stick, and a reminder of tight lines on truth-telling.

Chengdu police say the probe continues. No trial date is set. Families wait for news on visits or bail.