Beijing: Taiwan-based Gusa Publishing's editor-in-chief, Fu Cha (???), has been released from prison after serving a three-year sentence on charges of secessionism, but he remains unable to leave China, as reported by a source familiar with the situation. Despite his release in May, Fu Cha, the pen name of Li Yanhe, will face an additional penalty of one-year deprivation of political rights, a source in contact with his family disclosed to CNA.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Chinese-language Liberty Times also reported Fu Cha's release and reunion with his family, albeit with restrictions on his movement outside China. The source described him as "appearing to be free, but unable to leave the country." However, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has not confirmed Fu Cha's release nor provided information on when he might be permitted to leave China. During a regular news briefing in Beijing, TAO spokesperson Zhang Han stated that relevant authorities have handled the case lawfully, emphasizing the protection of Fu Cha's lawful rights and interests.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council refrained from confirming Fu Cha's release, citing considerations for his family's privacy. A Chinese national with residency in Taiwan, Fu Cha was detained by national security authorities in Shanghai on March 21, 2023, during a visit to his family for residency-related matters. The Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court sentenced him in February 2025 to three years in prison for "inciting to split the country," along with the confiscation of 50,000 Chinese yuan (US$7,377) in personal assets.

Fu Cha's case has been highlighted in reports by Chinese authorities as an example of the repercussions for "Taiwan independence" activities and was publicized during China's annual "two sessions" political meetings. Born in 1971 in Liaoning, China, Fu Cha has been married to a Taiwanese woman and held residency in Taiwan since 2013. He founded Gusa Publishing in Taipei in 2009, known for its publications critical of the Chinese Communist Party and on politically sensitive issues in China.

This situation underscores the challenges faced by Chinese spouses of Taiwanese nationals seeking citizenship, as media reports indicated Fu Cha's return to China was to cancel his household registration, a necessary step in the citizenship process.