A SUSPECTED Chinese dissident has been arrested after fleeing the country on a jet ski armed with only binoculars and a compass.

Kwon Pyong, 35, washed up on South Korea's west coast after taking to the sea to skirt around an exit ban forbidding him from leaving.

Wearing a life vest and helmet, he hopped on an 1800-cc red jet ski in China's coastal province of Shandong for the daring mission across the choppy waters.

The rights activist used binoculars and a compass to navigate the Yellow Sea while towing five barrels of fuel behind him.

"He refilled the petrol on the ride and dumped the empty barrels into the sea," an official told reporters on Tuesday.

South Korea's Coast Guard said Kwon rode 250 miles across the open water on his jet ski before becoming stuck on a muddy shore.

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His master plan was sabotaged by tidal flats near a cruise terminal in the port city of Incheon, which trapped his water scooter.

The bloke was forced to call for help after realising his movie-like bid for freedom on August 16 had been thwarted by the wetlands.

He was rescued by the coastguard before being arrested for "attempting to smuggle himself into" South Korea.

There is no suggestion that the jet ski rider could be a spy, with reports claiming he intended to reach his relatives who live there.

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Although authorities did not confirm the suspect's identity, South Korea-based campaigner Lee Dae-seon revealed it was Kwon.

He explained the alleged dissident had been forced to make the risky journey after being banned from leaving China due to his activism.

Kwon was jailed for 18 months in 2017 for "inciting subversion of state power" after he criticised Xi Jinping's government on social media.

He shared speeches, images and videos slamming the authoritarian rule and strict censorship as well as participating in pro-democracy protests.

In one image, Kwon sported a white t-shirt that likened President Xi to Adolf Hitler.

Upon his release from behind bars, the 35-year-old was slapped with an exit ban which stopped him from leaving China legally.

Lee explained his pal had tried to seek political asylum in Korea in 2019, but his application was cancelled due to a Covid travel ban.

China has been doling out exit bans to critics of Xi's regime – both locals and foreign citizens – to keep them trapped in the country.

The move allowed authorities to easily silence and keep tabs on rebels who prove a threat to the country's totalitarian rule.

According to Lee, Kwon is seeking political asylum outside China – ideally in the US, UK or Canada.

He added: "Kwon is in good health and good spirits.

"While his means of entry into South Korea in violation of the law was wrong, surveillance of the Chinese authorities and political persecution of Kwon since 2016 are behind his life-risking crossing into South Korea.

"He is now weighing whether to apply for refugee status in South Korea or choose a third country."

South Korea only grants a handful of refugees asylum each year.

Officials said the alleged defector, who previously studied in Iowa, had previously visited Korea but did not disclose any further details.

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul refused to comment, saying it has no relevant information about the case.

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