Earlier this month in China, an intensified crackdown went into force against anyone spreading harmful information on the internet.
You might notice I've removed all names from this article. I'm elderly and I like to comment on news articles that affect us all. Perhaps I'm safe in England for the moment, but political changes make a huge impact on laws. As writers, we're aware it's best to stay clear of politics and religion as a safeguard against antagonizing other people. We don't expect to be arrested.

That campaign has seen many potential voices of opposition detained or jailed including human rights lawyers, academics, artists, anti-corruption activists and religious leaders. See The Telegraph article.
Unless writers can publish their views, nobody will ever know what's going on—what's affecting people in different parts of the world. If our knowledge is limited, we'll become insular. We might not know the aging writer, or even care what happens to him, but in principle, we must stand against anyone limiting our voice.