The daughter of prominent Chinese human rights activist Tang Jitian has died in Tokyo. Tang had been trying to visit her, but Chinese authorities have barred him from leaving China.

Tang, a former lawyer, had supported people who were forcefully deprived of their land and homes by the Chinese authorities. He was disbarred in 2010 for criticizing the government.

His daughter Zhengqi traveled to Japan in 2019 to attend university. She fell critically ill with meningitis in 2021 and remained unconscious.

A professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Ako Tomoko, supported Tang's daughter. Ako said Zhengqi died from pneumonia on Tuesday. She was 27 years old.

Her father had been seeking to visit Japan to see her, but Chinese authorities refused to let him leave the country, citing reasons including national security concerns.

After Chinese authorities detained him for more than a year, Tang was released in January 2023. But he is believed to be still under surveillance.

Professor Ako, an expert on social issues in China, said cases prioritizing national security over human rights have increased under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping. She said Beijing should reconsider its tightened clampdown on people.