First defector of the New Year from communist China

Zhang Kaichen delivering his defection speech in New York. (Zhang Zheng/Secret China)

The director of communications for the Shenyang Propaganda Department, and general manager of Shenyang Daily, Zhang Kaichen, has defected from the Chinese communist regime in a public announcement in New York on New Years Day.

Having prepared for nearly six months and with the help of many people, Mr. Zhang left China on 27th Dec, 2009, and arrived in America just before New Year.

Deputy Chairman of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Communist Party, Mrs. Yi Rong, hands Mr Zhang’s Quitting CCP certificate to him. (Zhang Zheng/Secret China)

In his announcement in this specially arranged meeting, Zhang said: "At the beginning of the New Year, when waiting for everything to start, it is such a special day for me; unforgettable for me in my whole life. After my anxious journey across the ocean to the other shore here, I take this opportunity to solemn declare, from today onwards, I completely, and thoroughly discard the evil cult ----the Chinese Communist Party  and use my real name. I have been a communist party member for over 20 years and only today; I start to feel that I am really free, and a true person."
Many Chinese democracy activists around the world made phone calls to support Mr. Zhang’s action;

Zhang continued: “Why am I taking such action, and daring to use my real name to quit the CCP? This is due to my deep understanding of the nature of the CCP, I need to help myself, I do not want to be  buried alongside them. The CCP is doomed from inside out. They know that themselves. They are just making a final struggle before they face their demise.”