A Chinese student poised for a top scholarship in London has vanished in China, raising alarms among human rights groups and academics. Zhang Yadi, from Changsha in Hunan province, hasn’t been heard from since late July, after she returned home from France this summer.
Zhang, who speaks Chinese, Tibetan, English, and several other languages, was set to start a Master’s program in Anthropology at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies in September 2025. She earned the spot on a prestigious scholarship and had been deeply involved in advocacy work, especially around Tibet and human rights.
According to reports from Free Tibet, Zhang flew back to China on July 5 to visit her family. Friends last heard from her on July 30 while she was in Shangri-La, a scenic spot in Yunnan province. Since then, all contact with her peers and family has gone silent. Activists suspect state security officials may have taken her to her hometown in Changsha, where she’s reportedly facing vague charges of endangering national security—a common tool Beijing uses to quiet critics, researchers, and democracy supporters.
Before her sudden silence, Zhang kept in touch regularly. But after July 30, her WeChat account showed strange activity, and her mother, Zhou, started giving conflicting updates. Free Tibet says this points to intense pressure from authorities on both Zhang and her family.
Tensions boiled over on September 16 when prominent human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong tried to help Zhang’s mother during a meeting in Changsha. Unidentified men grabbed him and held him briefly before releasing him. The incident highlights the dangers for anyone stepping in to support families in cases like this.
Zhang’s case fits a worrying trend in China, where Beijing cracks down on students and activists linked to Tibet issues, human rights, or calls for more freedoms. Her disappearance has sparked widespread concern from global academics and rights defenders, who fear for her safety.
The story comes from reports, citing Free Tibet.
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