From Sui-Lee Wee, John Ruwitch, and Michael Perry with Reuters, “Detained China dissident Cao Shunli near death: Close friend”:

She went missing in mid-September after authorities prevented her from flying to Geneva for a human rights training programme. She was formally arrested in October on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking troubles", the watchdog group Human Rights in China said.

Human Rights in China had quoted her lawyer last month as saying she suffered from tuberculosis, liver disease and other conditions. Medical parole had been denied until she was seriously ill.

See HRIC press work on Cao Shunli.