Her father, Arthur Liu, fled China after becoming a wanted man because of his involvement in the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in 1989.
The father of U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu says he would not allow his daughter to compete for China, citing its human rights record and ongoing abuses and recalling his own escape decades ago.
Arthur Liu, who fled China in the 1990s because of his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, said his 20-year-old daughter is “fascinated” by his life story—from his upbringing and decision to protest against the Chinese communist regime to becoming a wanted man, fleeing the country, and rebuilding his life in the United States as a political refugee.
“Obviously, it will be impossible for me to allow my daughter to compete on behalf of the Chinese government when the Chinese government is still abusing the basic human rights of the Chinese people,” Arthur Liu told “China in Focus,” a program of NTD, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, from Milan on Feb. 18.
“So I mean, if China becomes a democracy and has respect for human rights and has a legitimate, fair legal system, I have no problems. I love China. I want to make it clear, I love China. I love the Chinese people.”
Alysa Liu became the youngest U.S. women’s national champion at age 13 before making her Olympic debut for the United States at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. After briefly retiring from competitive skating, she returned and remains on the U.S. team for the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Alysa Liu’s story contrasts with that of U.S.-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who in 2019 chose to compete for China, her mother’s birth country. Gu’s decision has recently drawn public attention in the United States, including criticism from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.).
Arthur Liu said he has carried his activism from China to the United States, organizing protests in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco and the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
“I continued to raise concerns about the human rights violations in China, the government’s persecution of the Uyghurs, and also the political dissidents,” Arthur Liu said. “I want people to become aware of what’s going on in China.”
Beijing, meanwhile, has sent spies to watch him, according to Arthur Liu.
By Frank Fang
