Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration’s threats to expel Chinese students with ties to the People’s Liberation Army, a young student from the Sichuan capital of Chengdu said she would still pursue her plan of studying in the U.S. because of the rights and liberties it would bring her.

Speaking to Apple Daily, a Chinese student who only identified herself as Winnie said she realized the importance of free speech after reading harrowing details about the government’s handling of a case involving dissidents. Despite the accused citing Article 35 of the constitution, which states that “citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech,” the judges dismissed the defence on the grounds that words that undermine national security are excluded from the scope of free speech.

The defendants were subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years in jail each after being convicted of inciting subversion of state power or of provoking disturbances.

Winnie, an information-technology student in her 20s who was born and raised in mainland China, said she came across the court verdicts for this case when she circumvented the country’s online censorship system to search for materials related to the anti-extradition bill protests that started in Hong Kong last year.

In China, the “Great Firewall” censorship system blocks many major non-Chinese websites, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. The country also heavily censors online materials deemed sensitive. Many internet users rely on VPNs to access blocked sites and services in what is coined “venturing outside the wall.”

After reading about the court case, Winnie said she reviewed her own posts on Chinese microblogging site Weibo and started to self-censor some of them.

“What I have said there would be enough to send me to jail,” she explained.

She later erased all her posts and personal details from Weibo and opened up a Twitter account, where she self-identified as a liberal and supporter of Hong Kong’s protests. Her account now has more than 3,300 followers, among which are Chinese pro-democracy activist Hu Jie and Australia-based dissident artist Badiucao.

Winnie has used her Twitter account to criticize the Chinese government. Despite being able to voice her opinions, she said she still has to remain vigilant as there have been news of dissidents’ accounts and identities being exposed online.

She said that she looked forward to enjoying a life of freedom once she starts her studies in the U.S. She has already received an offer from an American university and is waiting for her F1 student visa, which has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the uncertainties, Winnie said she remained optimistic.

“I hope I can also stay behind and work in the U.S. after finishing my studies,” she said.

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