Dissident Who Fled China by Jet Ski Said to Have Planned Escape for Years

Kwon Pyong, a Chinese critic of his country’s ruling Communist Party, already had a reputation for boldness.

Seven years ago he posted a photo of himself on Twitter in a T-shirt that referred to Xi Jinping, China’s authoritarian leader, as “Xitler.” This, and a spate of similarly provocative antigovernment comments from Mr. Kwon, who lived in the northeastern Chinese city of Yanbian, led to a charge of inciting subversion and a stint in prison.

Last week, Mr. Kwon, 35, made another…