In Vancouver, Zhao Yuhong, now in her sixties, lives a quiet life with her daughter, Gan Luping. The calm, she says, came only after years of pressure and uncertainty in China. In an interview, the two women described experiences that, in their view, reflect the constraints of one-party rule, from workplace coercion to personal risk. Zhao, a former deputy bank president responsible for core operations, said she faced detention and retaliation after refusing to take part in financial misconduct. Her daughter, who later moved to Canada, said she came to understand parts of China’s modern history through independent sources unavailable to her at home. Now living abroad, both have become involved in activities that advocate political reform and civil liberties.
Zhao joined the banking sector in 1986 and worked her way up over decades. By her account, her career was built on diligence rather than political maneuvering. That changed after the bank came under tighter local government control.
She said senior managers began manipulating accounts to conceal losses while diverting funds. When inspections approached, she was asked to alter financial records.
She refused.
The consequences came quickly. Zhao was removed from her leadership position and reassigned to a teller role. Not long after, she said, several men approached her, identifying themselves as police.
“They questioned me for a full day and night,” Zhao recalled. “No sleep. Bright lights in my eyes the whole time. They...
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