采访记者：贾嘉 王海霞 沈美花采访地点：在野党杂志社人物简介徐光，浙江杭州人，中国民主党浙江委员会创始成员之一，1989年杭州学生民主运动参与者。1989年北京学生运动期间，他在杭州武林广场参加了声援北京学生的绝食行动。此后三十余年来，他持续关注民主、法治及公民权利议题，多次因参与相关活动受到拘留、监视和判刑。1999年，徐光由于参与组建中国民主党，被以“颠覆国家政权罪”判刑五年。2022年，徐光因纪念“六四”被指控犯有“寻衅滋事罪”判处四年有期徒刑。自被捕即音讯全无，至亲也无法知道他的任何下落。服刑期间，他长期以绝食方式表达抗议。据亲友介绍，他曾长期依靠鼻饲维持生命，身体一度极度消瘦。2026年5月19日刑满出狱时，体重仅约90斤，出狱照片在海外广泛传播，引发众多朋友和关注者的关切，从而使拍摄者毛庆祥被抓并拘留半个月，徐光本人也被警方带走，失踪至“六四”以后回家。经过短暂休养，目前徐光体重已恢复至115斤左右，精神状态明显改善。近日，《在野党》记者贾嘉通过视频连线，对徐光进行了出狱后的首次深度专访。“看到他的第一眼，我们终于松了一口气”距离徐光出狱，已经过去两个多月。出狱当天流传出来的一张照片，让很多关心他的人久久不能平静。照片中的他，脸颊深陷，身体瘦得几乎脱形，站立时甚至需要依靠支撑。很多熟悉他的朋友第一眼甚至没有认出来。为徐光的安全，我们没有第一时间联系采访，而是希望他先把身体养好。直到这一天，视频终于接通。屏幕里的徐光穿着一件浅色上衣，虽然依然清瘦，但气色比出狱时好了许多，讲话声音平稳，精神状态也恢复不少。寒暄之后，我们问出了大家最关心的问题。记者贾嘉：“徐老师，您好。我们一直都很牵挂您的身体，看到您刚出狱时的照片，很多海外朋友都非常揪心。这段时间恢复得怎么样？”徐光笑了笑。“刚出来的时候只有90斤，现在恢复到115、116斤左右了。”听到这个数字，我们终于放下了心。他说，恢复得快，很重要的原因是自己的心态一直比较平静。“出来以后，睡得着，吃得下，所以恢复得比较快。”1989年，一次绝食改变了一生很多人知道徐光，是因为他几十年来始终坚持自己的理念。但他说，年轻时的自己，并不是一个热衷政治的人。“我本来就是一个比较喜欢自由生活的人，喜欢过自己的小日子。国家那么大，我觉得一个普通人能做什么？”1989年，北京学生运动爆发。全国各地纷纷响应。杭州武林广场，也聚集了许多声援北京的学生。每天，北京学生绝食、被送往医院抢救的消息不断传来。他说，那些画面深深触动了自己。“他们为了国家、为了民族，可以把自己的生命放在那里。我如果还只想着自己过得舒服一点，心里真的过意不去。”于是，他来到武林广场，也加入了绝食。他说，当时的想法其实很简单。“就是爱这个国家，希望它越来越好。”在他看来，那不仅仅是一次社会运动。也是自己人生方向的开始。那场对学生和市民的大屠杀深深震撼了徐光，“从那以后，为国家、为民族、为自由、为民主，这些理念就在我心里扎下了根。”四年绝食，真正支撑我的不是意志，而是信念谈到狱中的四年绝食，很多人都想知道，他究竟靠什么坚持下来，记者问：“做出一个决定已经不容易，坚持四年，更难。到底是什么支撑着您？”徐光沉默片刻。随后缓缓说道：“首先，我认为，我不是为了我自己。”他说，自己所做的一切，都不是为了个人利益，也不是为了家庭，而是为了国家、为了民族。“如果我是为了我自己，我早就不会坚持了。”他说，每当身体因为长期绝食而承受巨大痛苦的时候，他都会不断提醒自己：“我是为了国家、为了民族在承受这些苦难。”“当我这样想的时候，我反而感觉不到那么痛苦了。”他说，真正能够支撑自己坚持下来的，是信念，而不是单纯的意志力。“最难的时候，我总会想起1989年的年轻人”采访中，徐光讲述了一段令我们印象深刻的话。他说，每当自己觉得身体和精神都快支撑不住的时候，脑海里总会浮现1989年那些年轻人的身影。“他们很多人才二十岁左右。”“没有经历过人生，没有家庭，没有孩子，没有未来。”而自己已经结婚、生子，也经历过人生。他说：“跟他们相比，我已经很幸运了。”每次想到这里，他都会告诉自己：“他们都能够付出生命，我还有什么苦不能吃？”他说，很多次，自己就是这样挺过来的。“国家，不是某一个政党的国家”采访中，我们问了一个很多人都会思考的问题。长期遭受打压，会不会怀疑自己的坚持？徐光认真地回答：“国家，不是某一个政党的国家。”他说，在自己的理解中：国家属于人民。不是属于政府。更不是属于某一个领导人。“我爱的，是这个国家，是中国人民，是养育我的这片土地。”他说，这一点，几十年来从未改变。“所以，我从来没有怀疑过自己的初心。”⸻⸻⸻采访尾声采访进行了一个多小时。就在我们准备继续聊下去的时候，电话那头传来了家人的声音。徐光笑着说：“我太太叫我了，下次再聊吧。”我们相约改日继续采访。屏幕关闭后，我久久没有离开电脑。采访中，徐光谈得最多的，并不是自己在监狱里遭遇了什么，而是1989年、国家、人民、自由、民主，以及支撑他一路走来的信念。无论人们如何评价他的选择，对他而言，这些信念构成了他人生的重要部分。附录｜徐光狱中诗作据了解，服刑期间，徐光坚持阅读、思考，并创作了多首诗歌。以下两首诗创作于2024年，是他狱中作品的一部分。《为国为民争民主》作于2024年9月9日为国为民争民主飘零半世心不空西子湖头有三忠为国为民呕心血慷慨就义赴从容仁爱博爱皆大爱自由民主普世同奋斗百年误歧路正本清源终成功《一寸自由一寸血》作于2024年9月14日一寸自由一寸血敬天保民根自泥砥砺前行心不迷自强不息五千载厚德载物三万里弃德报怨应巨变误入歧途俄为师一寸自由一寸血誓争民主志不移
编辑：赵杰 校对：周敏翻译：戈冰
Exclusive Interview with Xu Guang: Four Years of Hunger Strike, Over Thirty Years of Persistence — “What I love is this country, not a particular political party”
Interviewers: Jia Jia, Wang Haixia, Shen Meihua Interview Location: The Opposition Party Magazine Office
Profile
Xu Guang, a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is one of the founding members of the Zhejiang Committee of the China Democracy Party and a participant in the 1989 Hangzhou Student Democracy Movement. During the 1989 Beijing student movement, he participated in a hunger strike in Hangzhou’s Wulin Square to voice solidarity with the students in Beijing. Over the subsequent thirty-plus years, he has continuously focused on issues of democracy, the rule of law, and civil rights, and has been repeatedly detained, placed under surveillance, and sentenced for participating in related activities. In 1999, due to his involvement in organizing the China Democracy Party, Xu Guang was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “subverting state power.”
In 2022, Xu Guang was sentenced to four years in prison on the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for commemorating “June Fourth.” Following his arrest, all news of him vanished completely, and even his closest relatives were unable to obtain any information regarding his whereabouts. During his imprisonment, he conducted a long-term hunger strike as a form of protest. According to his relatives and friends, he relied on nasogastric tube feeding for a prolonged period to sustain his life, and his body once became extremely emaciated. When he completed his sentence and was released on May 19, 2026, his weight was only about 90 jin (approx. 45 kg). A photograph of him taken upon his release circulated widely overseas, sparking deep concern among many friends and observers; consequently, Mao Qingxiang, the person who took the photograph, was arrested and detained for half a month, while Xu Guang himself was also taken away by the police, remaining missing until returning home after “June Fourth.”
After a brief period of recuperation, Xu Guang’s weight has currently recovered to around 115 jin (approx. 57.5 kg), and his mental and physical state has noticeably improved. Recently, The Opposition Party reporter Jia Jia conducted the first in-depth exclusive interview with Xu Guang after his release via video link.
“Seeing him for the first time, we finally breathed a sigh of relief”
More than two months have passed since Xu Guang was released from prison.
A photograph that circulated on the day of his release made many people who care about him unable to find peace of mind for a long time.
In the photograph, his cheeks are deeply sunken, his body is so thin that it is nearly deformed, and he even requires support to stand. Many friends who are familiar with him could not even recognize him at first glance.
For Xu Guang’s safety, we did not reach out for an interview immediately, wishing instead for him to first restore his health.
Until this day, the video call was finally connected.
On the screen, Xu Guang was wearing a light-colored top. Although he was still thin, his complexion was much better than when he was released from prison; his speaking voice was steady, and his mental and physical state had recovered a great deal.
After exchanging pleasantries, we asked the question that everyone cared about the most.
Reporter Jia Jia:
“Hello, Teacher Xu. We have always been very concerned about your health. Seeing the photograph of you when you were just released, many friends overseas felt deeply anxious and pained. How has your recovery been during this period of time?”
Xu Guang smiled slightly.
“When I just came out, I was only 90 jin(approx. 45 kg), but now I have recovered to around 115 or 116 jin(approx. 57.5 kg).”
Hearing this number, we finally set our minds at ease.
He said that a very important reason for his rapid recovery was that his mindset had always remained relatively peaceful.
“Since coming out, I can sleep well and eat well, so the recovery has been relatively fast.”
1989: A Hunger Strike That Changed a Lifetime
Many people know of Xu Guang because he has consistently adhered to his ideals for decades.
Yet, he said that when he was young, he was not someone keen on politics.
“Originally, I was just someone who preferred a free life, liking to live my own small daily life. The country is so big; I felt, what could an ordinary person do?”
In 1989, the Beijing student movement erupted.
Responses echoed all across the country.
In Hangzhou’s Wulin Square, many students also gathered to voice solidarity with Beijing.
Every day, news kept arriving that Beijing students were on hunger strikes and being rushed to hospitals for emergency treatment.
He said those scenes deeply touched him.
“For the country and for the nation, they could lay down their lives right there. If I still only thought about living a bit more comfortably myself, I would truly feel terribly uneasy in my heart.”
Consequently, he went to Wulin Square and joined the hunger strike as well.
He said his thoughts at the time were actually very simple.
“It was just loving this country and hoping that it would become better and better.”
In his view, that was not merely a social movement.
It was also the beginning of his life’s direction.
That massacre of students and citizens deeply shocked Xu Guang. “Since then, concepts such as working for the country, for the nation, for freedom, and for democracy have taken root in my heart.”
Four Years of Hunger Strike: What Truly Supported Me Was Not Willpower, But Belief
Speaking of his four-year hunger strike in prison, many people want to know what exactly he relied on to persevere. The reporter asked: “Making a decision is already not easy; persevering for four years is even harder. What on earth supported you?”
Xu Guang fell silent for a moment. Then he spoke slowly:
“First of all, I believe that I was not doing it for myself.”
He said that everything he did was not for personal interest, nor was it for his family, but for the country and for the nation.
“If I were doing it for myself, I would have stopped persevering long ago.”
He said that whenever his body endured immense suffering due to the long-term hunger strike, he would constantly remind himself:
“I am enduring these hardships for the country and for the nation.”
“When I think this way, I instead do not feel as much pain.”
He said that what could truly support him to persevere was belief, rather than pure willpower.
“During the hardest times, I would always think of the young people of 1989”
During the interview, Xu Guang recounted a passage that left a deep impression on us.
He said that whenever he felt his body and mind were about to become unsustainable, the figures of those young people from 1989 would always emerge in his mind.
“Many of them were only around twenty years old.”
“They had not experienced life, had no families, no children, and no future.”
In contrast, he had already married, had a child, and had experienced life.
He said: “Compared to them, I am already very fortunate.”
Every time he thought of this, he would tell himself:
“They could all give up their lives; what hardships can I not endure?”
He said that on many occasions, this was exactly how he made it through.
“The country does not belong to a particular political party”
During the interview, we asked a question that many people ponder.
Having suffered suppression for a long time, does he ever doubt his persistence?
Xu Guang answered earnestly:
“The country does not belong to a particular political party.”
He said that in his own understanding:
The country belongs to the people.
It does not belong to the government.
And it certainly does not belong to a particular leader.
“What I love is this country, the Chinese people, and this land that raised me.”
He said that this point has never changed over the decades.
“Therefore, I have never doubted my original aspiration.”
———
Epilogue of the Interview
The interview proceeded for over an hour.
Just as we were preparing to continue chatting, a family member’s voice came from the other end of the phone.
Xu Guang said with a smile:
“My wife is calling me; let’s chat next time.”
We agreed to continue the interview another day.
After the screen turned off, I did not leave the computer for a long time.
Throughout the interview, what Xu Guang spoke about the most was not what he had encountered in prison, but rather 1989, the country, the people, freedom, democracy, and the belief that supported him all along the way.
No matter how people evaluate his choices, to him, these beliefs constitute an essential part of his life.
Appendix | Xu Guang’s Poetry Written in Prison
It is understood that during his sentence, Xu Guang persisted in reading and reflecting, and composed multiple poems. The following two poems were written in September 2024 and constitute part of his prison works.
Striving for Democracy for the Country and the People
Composed on September 9, 2024
Striving for democracy for the country and the people, Drifting through half a lifetime, yet the heart is not empty. At the banks of the West Lake, there are the Three Loyals, Exerting life’s blood for the country and the people. Righteously facing martyrdom with calm composure, Benevolence and philanthropy are both the greatest forms of love, Freedom and democracy are universal to all. Struggling for a century, yet misled down a mistaken path, Dispelling falsehoods to return to the source, success will ultimately be achieved.
An Inch of Freedom, An Inch of Blood
Composed on September 14, 2024
An inch of freedom, an inch of blood, Revering heaven and protecting the people, the roots originate from the mud. Forging ahead through trials, the heart does not wander, Constantly striving for self-improvement for five thousand years, With great virtue sustaining all things across thirty thousand li. Abandoning virtue to repay resentment invites momentous change, Going astray by taking Russia as the tutor. An inch of freedom, an inch of blood, Vowing to fight for democracy, the resolve shall never shift.
Editor: Zhao Jie Proofreader: Zhou Min Translator: Ge Bing
