Sun Dawu
Sun Dawu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, agricultural entrepreneur, human rights advocate |
| Known for | Co-owner of Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group; advocacy for farmers' rights and rural land reforms; support for human rights attorneys |
Sun Dawu (; born June 1954) is a Chinese billionaire who co-owns the Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group alongside his wife, Liu Huiru (刘会茹). Initially centered on agricultural production, the Dawu Group later diversified into sectors such as animal feed, real estate development, education, and healthcare services. Sun Dawu is recognized for his advocacy of farmers' rights and rural land reforms, as well as for financially supporting human rights attorneys.
In late November 2020, authorities detained Dawu together with 20 family members and associates amid a land dispute involving state-operated farms. Subsequently, he faced charges and was convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble.
Early life and career
Following his completion of junior high school, Dawu served in the 82nd Division of the 28th Group Army and was employed at the Agricultural Bank of Xushui County. In 1985, he established Dawu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Group Co., Ltd., beginning operations with 1,000 chickens and 50 pigs. By June 1996, he had earned recognition as Hebei province’s leading expert in poultry farming.
By 1995, Dawu Group had entered the ranks of China’s top 500 private enterprises. That year, Sun was elected as a Deputy to the Baoding Municipal People's Congress and, in 1996, assumed the chairmanship of the Baoding Poultry and Egg Industry Federation. In 2001, he took on the role of principal at Dawu School while continuing to lead the group, and in 2002 became a senior researcher at China Agricultural University's Institute of Farmer Issues.
Sun developed a company town named Dawu City in Hebei around the group's headquarters, which included facilities such as a hospital with 1,000 beds.
In 2005, he stepped down from his position as chairman to become chairman of Dawu Group’s supervisory board.
Criticism of the Chinese government
Sun Dawu regularly shared his opinions and liberal commentaries on his company’s website. In April 2003, Dawu Group published three articles critical of the Chinese government, including one discussing Li Shenzhi. The authorities ordered the removal of these articles, imposed a six-month shutdown of the website, and levied a fine of 15,000 yuan.
He provided support to Chinese dissidents like human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong and was described by Liu Xiaobo as posing a “tremendous challenge” to China’s political system. Sun openly called for political reforms, criticized numerous government policies publicly, and questioned the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. He also backed individuals targeted during the 709 crackdown on lawyers and activists in 2015. Furthermore, he accused officials of concealing an outbreak of African swine fever, which devastated his farms along with China’s pig industry in 2019.
Legal issues
In May 2003, Sun was detained after raising 180 million yuan; however, he demonstrated that these funds were loans rather than illegal acquisitions. The incident attracted widespread attention from academics, legal professionals, journalists, and farmers alike. It was reported that President Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu instructed local authorities to “handle the matter carefully.” Sun received a sentence of three years imprisonment with an additional four years probation and was fined 100,000 yuan for unauthorized use of public funds; nevertheless, his sentence was suspended following trial and he was released. The Dawu Group was fined 300,000 yuan. Observers noted Sun’s “notorious” standing among officials due to his refusal to engage in bribery. Following this episode, he was advised to maintain a low profile.
Arrest and Imprisonment in 2020
In November 2020, Dawu was taken into custody following a conflict involving his enterprise and a state-operated farm in Hebei province, with no formal explanation provided. The allegations against him encompassed picking quarrels and provoking trouble, unauthorized fundraising activities, illegal mining operations, unlawful occupation of state farmland, and interference with public officials. Several relatives and company leaders were also detained during this period.
At the preliminary hearing, Dawu refuted numerous charges, describing himself as an "exemplary Communist Party member," though he conceded to certain errors such as sharing messages online. His defense team petitioned for the trial to be conducted publicly.
Throughout a closed trial session, Dawu maintained his innocence on nine counts and reportedly initiated a hunger strike to protest his treatment. His attorneys asserted that the prosecution secured evidence through methods involving "torture" and "cruel and inhuman treatment," which led to coerced confessions. The court dismissed requests to exclude this evidence.
In July 2021, Dawu received an 18-year prison sentence for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, along with convictions for illegal occupation of farmland, organizing groups to assault state institutions, and obstructing government personnel. He was also ordered to pay a fine amounting to 3.11 million yuan (approximately $478,697).
During his final remarks, Dawu accepted full accountability for the criticisms directed at him and appealed for the acquittal of other accused individuals.