Wife of detained Taiwan activist to attend his trial in China

Lee Ching-yu, wife of Taiwan human rights advocate Lee Ming-che, who has been detained in China, speaks to the media a day before departing for her husband's trial, in Taipei, Taiwan September 9, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The wife and mother of detained Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-che were due to arrive in China on Sunday to attend his subversion trial on Monday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement, calling for Lee's safe return home.

Lee, a community college teacher and pro-democracy and human rights activist, went missing during a March visit to China. Authorities later confirmed he had been detained, straining already-tense ties between the mainland and the self-ruling island.