Beijing confirmed the narrative of a man who survived forced partial liver and lung removal in an attempt to discredit him, according to human rights observers in Washington.
The Chinese government unintentionally may have exposed itself to allegations of forced organ harvesting while trying to undermine the credibility of the first survivor to speak out about the issue, experts say.
Cheng’s Remarkable Survival
In November 2004, midway through his eight-year sentence, Cheng took drastic action to protest the abuse he endured: he swallowed a blunt nail and a rusty blade.
Prison guards immediately intervened, took him to the hospital, and pressured him to consent to surgery. When he refused, guards restrained and sedated him.
He woke up three days later in the hospital with a 14-inch incision on his chest, still shackled to the bed. Cheng was then returned to prison.
Cheng Peiming, a Falun Gong practitioner who had part of his liver and lung forcibly removed in China, shows his scar after a press conference in Washington on Aug. 9, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
Sixteen months later, in March 2006, he was suddenly taken to the hospital again and informed that he needed a risky surgery with a high mortality rate due to allegedly ingesting another blade—a claim Cheng denies.
Believing they intended to kill him, Cheng managed to escape when the guards were asleep.
It was revealed that his escape coincided with the emergence of whistleblowers sharing stories about secret organ harvesting in Chinese medical facilities to The Epoch Times. Cheng shuddered at the thought of what might have befallen him.
Since leaving China, Cheng has undergone numerous medical examinations confirming the surgical removal of part of his liver and lung by three experts from the United States and Taiwan.
As the first known survivor of such atrocities, Cheng decided to speak out with his story.
Unintentional Admission
The widely circulated article from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responding to Cheng’s allegations failed to address his ordeal. Instead, it focused on trivial details of his press conference, dismissed forced organ harvesting as a rumor spread by anti-China forces, and claimed his surgery was solely to remove the objects he swallowed.
Despite the denials, the regime’s response may have inadvertently confirmed key aspects of Cheng’s story that were previously unsubstantiated.
Nina Shea, the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, noted that the article provided crucial evidence supporting Cheng’s claims that was previously lacking.
“How did I know he was a prisoner? I didn’t know that. I didn’t have evidence of that. I don’t think he had evidence of that, but they gave evidence of it,” Shea told The Epoch Times.
Nina Shea, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, speaks at a briefing about forced organ harvesting held at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 4, 2024. The article also helped confirm that Cheng was sent to prison for his beliefs, taken to the hospital, underwent surgery resulting in a scar. Additionally, the CCP’s specific comment on the case, instead of a generic denial, indicates the seriousness of the situation. Robert Destro, who facilitated Cheng’s escape to the US, noted the significance of the CCP’s response.
The Chinese authorities are on the defensive, with the denials coming from public security rather than medical authorities, suggesting their involvement in the surgery against Cheng’s will. The absence of direct quotes or an author’s name in the article raises doubts about its credibility. David Matas, a Canadian human rights lawyer, criticized the article as propaganda that mischaracterizes Falun Gong and attacks those who speak out.
The medical procedures Cheng underwent have raised questions about the Chinese narrative. The removal of parts of Cheng’s organs during the surgery seems illogical, with experts questioning the necessity of such actions. The unusual nature of the surgery, along with the lack of clarity on the doctors’ motives, suggests potential experimentation or training at the hospital. It is possible that they were exploring a different surgery technique or conducting research on organ tissues. Wendy Rogers, a professor of clinical ethics and chair of the advisory committee for the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), has previously stated that a partial liver removal can occur when the recipient is a child. David Matas, speaking on EpochTV’s “American Thought Leaders,” mentioned that these scenarios are possible, but it is ultimately up to the Chinese government or the hospital to provide an explanation for their actions.
Trey speculated that Chinese authorities may have brought Cheng back to the hospital to silence him after learning of whistleblowers attempting to expose the crime. Today, Cheng walks and speaks normally, but he admits that he has never been the same since his hospital ordeal, with a throbbing scar on his left rib cage and difficulty breathing at night.
Cheng urged the international community to pressure Beijing to allow independent investigations of prisons and hospitals from outside sources. Estimates suggest that the CCP could be making up to $9 billion annually from the forced organ trade, a practice that former Congressman Frank Wolf finds horrific regardless of the scale.
Shea and Destro applaud members of Congress for taking steps to combat the abuse, with the House passing the Falun Gong Protection Act in June. They hope that the Senate will follow suit before the end of the Congressional legislative session. Destro emphasized the importance of moral courage in standing up against such atrocities. Could you please rephrase this sentence?
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