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Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is under U.S. protection in Beijing after an audacious escape from 19 months under house arrest, a U.S.-based group said on Saturday, in a drama that threatens to ignite new tensions between the two governments.
The United States has not given any public confirmation of reports that Chen, who slipped away from under the noses of guards and bristling surveillance equipment around his village home in Shandong province, fled into the U.S. embassy.
China has also declined direct public comment on Chen's reported escape, which threatens to overshadow a two-day meeting with top Obama administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Beijing from Thursday.
But Texas-based ChinaAid said it "learned from a source close to the Chen Guangcheng situation that Chen is under U.S. protection and high level talks are currently under way between U.S. and Chinese officials regarding Chen's status".
"Because of Chen's wide popularity, the Obama Administration must stand firmly with him or risk losing credibility as a defender of freedom and the rule of law," Bob Fu, president of the religious and political rights advocacy group that has long campaigned for Chen's freedom, said in an email to Reuters.
On Friday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, asked about the situation, told reporters: "I don’t have anything on this issue at all." There was no further update from the department early Saturday.
Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng escapes from house arrest
The New York Times reported that the situation leaves the United States "with a new diplomatic quandary as it seeks to improve its fraught relationship with Beijing".
The reports of Chen's escape come nearly three months after a Chinese official Wang Lijun fled into a U.S. consulate for over 24 hours on February 6, unleashing a scandal that has rattled the ruling Communist Party months before a once-in-a-decade leadership handover.
Wang's brief flight to the U.S. consulate led to the downfall of top official Bo Xilai who had been openly campaigning for a place in the inner circle of power in Beijing.
Pu Zhiqiang, a Beijing lawyer and rights advocate, said reliable contacts also told him Chen took refuge in U.S. embassy grounds. The incident will be another damaging blot on China's security services, following Wang's flight, said Pu.
Video reveals blind Chinese activist's plight
"Everyone knew about the suffering of Chen Guangcheng and his family but nobody dared raised his head over this and ignored it," he told Reuters, referring to Chinese officials.
"Chen Guangcheng has been the most typical victim of this lawless, boundless exercise of power," said Pu. "But the day has finally come when he has escaped from it."
Chen, a self-schooled legal advocate who campaigned against forced abortions, had been held under extra-legal confinement in his village home in Linyi in eastern Shandong province since September 2010 when he was released from jail.
His confinement under relentless surveillance with his family fanned protests by Chinese sympathizers and criticism from foreign governments and groups.
Chen's escape and the furor it has unleashed could add to the headaches of China's ruling Communist Party, which is striving to ensure stability and authority before a leadership transition later this year.
It also threatens to overshadow a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who are due to visit Beijing next week for the annual "strategic and economic dialogue" between the two countries.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
This can't be right.
"Chen's escape and the furor it has unleashed could add to the headaches of China's ruling Communist Party, which is striving to ensure stability and authority before a leadership transition later this year."
Just two nights ago a right wing blogger said China was not really Communist but Capitalist. And that was why they supported them.
So which is it?? The rights supporting Communists or Capitalists??? You can't have it both ways.
Glock17: Unfortunately, curbing our Constitution , is the ONLY BI-Partisan thing they seem to do. Start with the so called Patriot Act.
Yes, you can have it both ways. Since China has it both ways, they also face criticism for both.
Their economy is capitalist, with lighter regulation and (I believe) less taxation than the United States.
But the government is controlled by the Communist party... which has abandoned all pretenses of Marxism and now only practices the totalitarian aspects inherent in Communist systems, such as complete party control of all branches of government and society, central control of the media, and close ties between civilian industry and the military. And let's not forget the political persecution.
So, really, it would be more accurate to just call them authoritarians and dispense with the Communist label... but they still call themselves the Communist party, so whatcha gonna do?
SF accountant: I would remind you that Joseph Stalin (Russian history) was extremely authoritarian .
But he was still Communist. Being authoritarian does not remove your Communist label.
As you say: "But the government is controlled by the Communist party... which has abandoned all pretenses of Marxism and now only practices the totalitarian aspects inherent in Communist systems, such as complete party control of all branches of government and society, central control of the media, and close ties between civilian industry and the military. And let's not forget the political persecution."
But your explanation is a excellent attempt to define the situation..Thus it comes down between two parts of your explanation.
1."Their economy is capitalist, with lighter regulation and (I believe) less taxation than the United States."
and
2."now only practices the totalitarian aspects inherent in Communist systems, such as complete party control of all branches of government and society, central control of the media, and close ties between civilian industry and the military. " Note :close ties between civilian industry. I would guess, how close determines the real definition.
I didn't claim that it does. I was saying that China's Communists have divorced themselves from the "Marxist" economic aspects of Communism, while retaining many of the "authoritarian" aspects of Communism. Communism has necessarily embraced both aspects in every country where it has been established, up until China underwent major economic reform. So yes, being an authoritarian doesn't remove your Communist label. But it is arguable that China's Communists are just kidding themselves when they call themselves that. They don't have much in the way of Marxist credentials right now.
As for the ties between industry and military, that's quite common in all countries, particularly those with less robust democracies. The only way China is really any different from most is that in its case the ties enjoy the support of all the organs of the state, and thus also has the full support of the legal and financial sectors.
Chen IS America's problem now! And i certainly hope this government does the right thing? America stands for FREEDOM, and therefore, we must support this guy Chen, since he has asked for political asylum! He is now our problem! And this administration had better back him! Piss on those Chinese Communists!
Yesterday, i heard and saw the new Rove commercial for Obama's celebrity. Too funny! I dont know about everyone else in this country, But i like to sing sometimes! I also like to dance, and wear sunglasses! Does this mean i cant do my job? Hell NO! I can still work and sing at the same time! If Rove's intentions were to make the President look bad,=FAIL! This just proves to me that he is human! And as a human, he is as fallible as anyone else. As long as he learns from his mistakes, which it seems he does, then what is the point of this stupid assed commercial? My guess? More of Rove's stupidity showing thru!
Rove is trying to dehumanize the President, to make his puppet seem more steady! What a joke that is! The massive flip flopper will never be more HUMAN than President Obama! Flip Rummey will never come close to a likable person! NEVER! Money cannot buy you a personallity! Sorry Flipper!
Also yesterday, i saw a map with the President in red, and Rummey the Dummy in blue. Sorry again Flip Robme! You are going to lose so badly, why dont you just go home? This new commercial is supposed to show the good side of Rummey the Dummy, the only good side of Flipper, is his back-side walking away!
Its a good thing he has so many people fooled, or he wouldn't get any votes! People have been drinking his Mittpiss, and they stare glassy eyed at him. They even give Flipper a standing ovation when he tells the biggest lies. My, my Flipper, what is in that Mittpiss? I hope the people drinking this Mittpiss, dont go blind? We'll see?
President Obama cant run on his record, that is partly right. He cannot run on something the congress kept him from accomplishing! Even when it meant it would help the whole country, they denied him! Treason!
I'm willing to give this President another four years! The alternative is too scary to contemplate! Could you imagine a Rummey country club? Oops, i meant White House. I cannot! This country cannot afford to go back to the future! We must continue in the forward motion set by this President! Not back to failed GOP policies!
Vote for this country, vote for OBAMA!!!
The United States better not try SOMETHING STUPID! LIKE HANDING THIS WONDERFUL MAN BACK over to those Smarmy Bastards, the Chinese Government.However,don't hold your breath!
It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the US did!Bioelectricclam,your words, I hope the we grant him asylum! You know what,Bioelectric?I would not hold my breath if we didn't!TBAustin?EXACTLY! If this man is given back to the Filthy Corrupt Chinese Government,that is a SURE SIGN of things to come.Again it would not surprise me.
The way things are going in this country people,like it or not,the CORRUPT PEOPLE now in charge of the United States Government are slowly and methodically turning this country,into a smaller Clone of China.Obama and the rest of the Gang are not to be trusted.If they hand him back over,you can sure as bank on the US Government LYING, about why this wonderful man was handed over.They'll come up with some sorry ass story as to WHY,GUARANTEED!
CaliforniaFirst, I hope what you're saying is true.That would be great if that clown and his merry men were packed off to some desert gulag!
I truly hope this man is granted asylum along with his family.However again,I'm not holding my breath.
Very interesting. I hope Chen gets a free pass and doesn't get traded off for who knows what fate. Then again, if it benefits our country then so be it.
Here we go again. Sticking our noses into things that are none of our business. These self righteous groups here in the US are a$$holes all the way around. Get a job, and why you are at it, get a life. All you do is create problems.
Well said, if other countries stuck their noses in our business as much as we have ours in theirs we would be terminally pissed.
The sneaking past the surveillance equipment is what sounds impossible. I don’t know how a blind person could do that. The surveillance guards were sure not doing there job. He couldn’t have known where the cameras were, so how did he do it. I don’t know why the Chinese Government would lock up his wife and child. That is not fair to me if they were not braking the law.
Really this needs to be a geo-politcal issue? Who's out there trying to turn this into some conflict of Nations? If this dude wants to denouce his chinese citizenship and become an American and has both education and means of sustainabily to thrive in America, then start the process. Otherwise one man's seeking of Asylum in the US Embassy in China is not any flippin reason to go off track on our foreign agenda visit to China. If this even becomes the top topic of discussion between our foreign diplomats then we deserve to be without in five years because we threw away an opportunity to set our focus on more than one topic. The purpose of the upcoming diplomatic meetings between the United States and China should be a focused and structured meeting regarding what the five year plan is between our Nations. China is still a developing Nation. We are supposedly a fully developed Nation. We need to form plans with them to bring about a mutual understanding regarding imports, exports, investment,energy, defense, offsense, and to be willing to sign promises amongst ourselves. Regarding China's human rights standing and evaluation in America's eyes, they are still learning and we should be willing to teach, not preach, our love of freedom and people's right to quiet enjoyment. If he is a loud and hateful dissident who tried to incite a mass revolution in China, then who are we to judge the Chinese government for putting him under house arrest? If one of my fellow American citizens tried to start a government overthrow, I would suppor the goverment in putting him under house arrest. If the Chinese government has treated this man as though he is vile and unwanted, yet he is not a criminal or public enemy #1 and he boldly denounces his Chinese citizenship, well then begin the process of asylym and citizenship. But it doesn't have to be some broo ha ha splashed about the news like it's a reason to go into full frontal attack and take our focus off the agenda for our diplomatic meeting with the Chinese.
I encourage everyone to watch their tongues. Sit and listen to each other and share a nice warm tea. The Chinese are not our enemy. They are a developing Nation trying just as hard as we are to take care of a country and guide its development and growth. What we talk about now is what we're planning for over the next five years. I know the Chinese use a five year goal/plan so I think they would be very receptive to outlining a future with us.
There is so much we can definitely learn from each other.
Saving an ANTI-abortion activist, from China...... Just what Obama needs, for the re-election!
Oh, THAT'S who that is. I thought Mr. Sulu from "Star Trek" was in trouble for a minute there.
James Landry,,,Poor little guy,,,,It is very apparent that both your parents and FOX noise has you brain-washed at your tender age,,,,Go online and search for which news station tells the most lies,,you guessed it, it's Fox noise,,,,I've got about 50 years on you son and I can tell you honestly if you don't start thinking for yourself, you will have a very sad life,,,I really hope not, but it's ultimetly your choice. Good luck son,,,,,
Omega1 I may not have been around as long as you have but I have had quite a few years under my belt. What you call lies from either network depends on your viewpoints. Both stations color their news Fox is more conservative, MSNBC is clearly more liberal. If you believe that you get the straight news, and only the straight news, from MSNBC you are greatly mistaken. Political viewpoints aside you should never look to one source for your information. Each network is bound to the viewers each has. You should look at different news sources, and yes even Fox, to get the real information out there. If your going to tell me that Fox always lies and MSNBC is the only one you need to look at you are a fool.
It always amused me somewhat when I see our political leaders lecture/scold China on their internal human rights issues. I wonder how the U.S. would react if China lectured us after the Rodney King beatings a good while back or if they lectured us during the civil rights sit in's? What would we do if someone here that stirred political unrest during Vietnam war --if those people took refuge in a Chinese embassy?
The last scenario would have been impossible. There was no Chinese--PRC--embassy in the US during the Vietnam War.
If that happened, hopefully we would have been embarrassed and humiliated before a scornful international community. As that is what SHOULD have happened.
But they didn't. Their loss. And ours. When people shrug their shoulders and look the other way nobody wins but the corrupt and malign.
This is in our "Sphere of Influence"?
How did he get the illusion the US is the place to flee for freedom and liberty? We only wrote it down and recite it in the classroom and courtroom but it's really not practiced here. I guess he bought into the myth too.... somebody lied to the poor blind man, again.
what is that they say about the blind leading the blind?
No wonder the rest of the world despises this nation. Our gubmint is continuously invading other countries soverignty and attempting to shove it's agenda down thier throats. US gubmint, mind your own gd business and try cleaning your own house for a change already.
Sovereignty isn't a reason to mistreat your people or brush off people's criticisms of it. It's an excuse.
It's the dictator's way of saying "you don't have any power here, I do! Neener neener neener!" because they don't have to answer to anyone else.
Of course, the very basis of your post is mistaken, anyway. It's not our government that's interfering in anything, it's Chen that's stirring up this hornet's nest. We'll see exactly how much our government tries to shove it's "agenda" down China's throat in the continuation.
Chen is a smart man, to have pulled this off now. Right before an important meeting, right in the middle of a turbulent time for the Communists and an election campaign for us Americans, he's managed to make the incarceration and harassment of political prisoners a major issue that can't be ignored by the president of the world's current superpower. As a foreign policy issue, no matter what happens the results will be laid directly at Obama's feet. The Chinese police services have already slipped up badly, and any action they take will be viewed as petty retaliation.
He's forced us to the table of democracy vs. authoritarianism, and it's time to show our hand. There's no way this can be ignored.
Your move, Mr. President.
Bombs away. Make those troops earn their money for a change. Mr. Romney is a Conscientious Objector and if elected, (highly doubtful) could not squeeze the trigger.
This is the kind of person that deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. If it wasn't for Obama's misplaced arrogance, he'd probabaly be ashamed.
An education is a terrible thing to waste.
From the story:
The New York Times reported that the situation leaves the United States "with a new diplomatic quandary as it seeks to improve its fraught relationship with Beijing".
The New York Times needs more attentive editing or better still, writers who understand English. The Times story uses "fraught" incorrectly. A situation is fraught with something, such as peril or danger. To write that something is "fraught" means nothing by itself. Such basic errors detract from the credibility of any news story.
That said, if Chen has sought or seeks political asylum, it should be granted, even though that decision would be fraught with the danger of irritating the Chinese government.
Apple makes your smart phones at a 71% gross profit in China instead of making only 41% gross profit in the the USA and you guys want to undo that?
It really doesn't matter. Everyone knows that by 2077 we'll go into a nuclear war with China over resources and then the world will be a cool nuclear wasteland filled with mutants and raiders. Or road gangs will fight over gas. Or a water world.
I'm crossing my fingers that I can get into Vault 23! Here's hoping!
Chen should be handed over to the Chinese government immediately. This is not our problem. We should keep or nose out of it!
Chen should really have gone to an embassy that was not owned by China. We owe so much to China that it might be very difficult to support him. For those who think that deficits don't matter should look at this situation.
Before y'all jump to conclusions about what Chen himself wants, you may want to read this very good piece int he Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chen-guangcheng-chinese-dissident-went-to-us-embassy-for-protection-friends-say/2012/04/28/gIQAV7VUnT_story.html
Quoting from the article:
'“He believes that China is in a period of intensive changes now and it’s not far away from the final fundamental change,” said Hu Jia, a Beijing activist who said he met with Chen on Wednesday. “He told me he didn’t want to ask for political asylum in the U.S. Instead, he wants to ‘stay in this land and continue to fight.’ ”'
I believe he went to the US in order to get help negotiating an arrangement with the Beijing government whereby he and his family could be afforded some measure of protection. The US - assuming we're not cowards - should be in the best position to to this, speaking to the Chinese government on his behalf. This move also maximizes publicity around his case, which Chen desperately needs to do if he is to survive (as we saw with Ai Weiwei, even the Chinese government isn't so stupid as to ignore public opinion, otherwise Ai would be long dead).
I hope you're right, Cali, but how much faith can anyone really put in the Chinese authorities to keep their word? Especially in the case of a "domestic stability" issue that involves a deal with a foreign entity?
I honestly don't know, as I don't know what the politburo fears more: upsetting the people by siezing and imprisoning him, or letting Chen do his work properly.
We just can't seem to get our act together in America so as a diversion we think we should be the paragon of virtue in supporting a blind activist in China. Our foreign policy is so goofy that the world just ignores or laughs at us with our rules of engagement, secret service affairs, corruption and economic lunacy.
The silly evil Americans just love to make things up to insult China. The story doesn't make sense at all, but the silly evil Americans still made up that story. Only dumb people like the silly evil Americans believe that story. Chen Guangcheng is a bad Chinese who loves to be the western puppets. There are bad Chinese who willing to be western puppets, and Chen Guangcheng is one of them. Not all of the Chinese love China, but majority of the Chinese love China. Chen Quangcheng, a blind Chinese who was blind when he was an infant, and some silly western media say that he was blind after he grown up.... He is a self taught lawyer who is a human right activist....??? He outsmart the Chinese Government to escape from house arrest and ran into the US Embassy in Beijing... What a stupid story.
I'm sure most of the Chinese love China.
I'm also sure that most of the Chinese love China SO MUCH that they'd like to have a hand in making it a better place, rather than trusting a politburo of elites who seem to be more concerned with lining their pockets and stamping out dissent.
You don't have to hate your country to want change.
Two words: Elian Gonzales
It's a failed correlation.
Cuba = Bad Communism , because it does not make multi-nationals enough money.
China= Good Communism , because it makes huge profits for multi-nationals via virtual indentured servitude .
I don't believe it. But , If I get reborn to a (R) , I might.