Laogai

The Laogai, meaning ‘reform through labour’, was a network of prison camps used to hold political opponents, criminals and others the CCP regarded with suspicion. Prisoners performed hard physical labour in filthy, insanitary conditions. Disease and exhaustion caused deaths, while communist propaganda was used to try to change prisoners’ beliefs.

Many others were imprisoned or sent to the laogai, a network of forced-labour camps. Prisoners worked on projects such as canals and railways, and in farms and mines: punishment also provided labour for the state.