A number of human rights activists have been arrested and detained in Wuxi, Jiangsu ahead of the G20 Hangzhou Summit next week, according to Radio Free Asia.

The 11th G20 Summit will take place on September 4 and 5 in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province on China’s southeast coast. It is an annual international forum during which the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries, as well as the European Union, meet to discuss issues pertaining to international financial stability.

west lake hangzhou
West Lake, Hangzhou

US-backed news outlet RFA said that according to sources cited by Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch, Wuxi petitioner Sun Jingfang was taken away by the public security bureau for disrupting public order. She will be detained for a period of 10 days starting Sunday. Sun friend’s You Jianying said the police made the arrest without proper legal documents, and she herself was taken to the police station and only allowed to return home after promising not to attend the G20 Summit.

Canyu, which covers human rights-related news in China, also said that because of the efforts to maintain stability during the period of the summit, many rights activists in Wuxi have been detained. Wu Shixing and You Guifeng have been placed under house arrest for 49 days, while Xia Lanying has been unreachable for almost 50 days.

Chinese news outlet Weiquanwang also reported that Wuxi rights activist Shen Aibin has been placed under a ten-day administrative detention by the local public security bureau and fined RMB$200 after leaving his residence to purchase food without permission.

Shen had earlier been under residential surveillance for “disturbing order at a public place,” according to China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group.

In addition, the Hangzhou government has announced a series of measures in preparation for the summit, such as security checks for individuals and vehicles entering West Lake. Roads heading to the popular tourist attraction have also been blocked off, while restricted areas will be closed off to the general public.

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Karen is a journalist and writer covering politics and legal affairs in Hong Kong for HKFP. She has also written features on human rights, public space, regional legal developments, social and grassroots activism, and arts & culture. She is a BA and LLB graduate from the University of Hong Kong.