The "Lei Chen case" was an incident during the White Terror period, in 1960.
Lei Chen was a politician, political critic, and publisher in the Republic of China. Born in Changxing, Zhejiang in 1897, he studied in Japan in his early years. After returning to China, he took a lot of work in political party affairs, and had a good relationship with the Kuomintang (National People's Party, KMT). In 1949, with the support of President Chiang Kai-shek, Lei Chen, Hu Shi, Hang Liwu and others, and in order to promote the idea of freedom and democracy, as well as to secure foreign aid, Lei Chen founded "Free China" journal.
With the outbreak of the Korean War and US aid to the KMT government, "Free China" journal turned to review Taiwan's internal issues. The journal became nearly the only dissenting voice in the public opinion space in the 1950s and 1960s, and its relationship with the authorities gradually deteriorated. In the 1960s, when Chiang Kai-shek's second term as president was about to expire, "Free China" journal published articles such as "A Final Piece of Advice to President Chiang" and "Why We Urgently Need a Strong Opposition Party" to oppose Chiang Kai-shek's re-election. The journal advocated for the establishment of an opposition party and its participation in elections, as a check and balance against the ruling party.
On September 1, 1960, the fifth issue of the 23rd volume of "Free China" journal published the editorial "The Eastern Flow of the Great River Cannot Be Stopped" by Yin Hai-kuang. This editorial argued that the formation of a Party is like the progressive flow toward democracy, and is unstoppable. On September 4 of the same year, the Taiwan Garrison Command arrested Lei Chen, Liu Tzu-ing, Ma Chih-su, Fu Cheng and others on suspicion of rebellion; Lei Chen was later sentenced in a military court on charges of "propaganda for [Communist] bandits" and "failure to report [Communist] bandits" to 10 years in prison. Fu Cheng and Ma Chih-su were sentenced to three years of criminal reform; Liu Tzu-ing was convicted as a "[Communist] bandit spy" and sentenced to 12 years in prison. As a result, "Free China" journal also announced its dissolution.
After Lei Chen was released from prison in 1970, he continued to promote democratic reform in Taiwan; however, he passed away in 1979, before martial law was lifted. On September 4, 2002, the government of the Republic of China officially acquitted him of all charges.
References: [吳三連台灣史料基金會 (Wu San-lien Foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials)(Chinese)] (http://www.twcenter.org.tw/thematic_series/history_class/history03); Ministry of Culture (https://cna.moc.gov.tw/home/zh-tw/history/36173); [民報(Taiwan People News)(Chinese)] (https://www.peoplenews.tw/news/9be92ec2-62a4-4cc1-9c68-f301a66c3470); [華視新聞網 (Chinese Television System website)(Chinese)] (http://news.cts.com.tw/cts/general/200209/200209040087913.html)