Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng called a hearing set up to explore his efforts to leave China and escape persecution—apparently from a Chinese hospital room.
"I want to meet with Secretary Clinton," he said on the phone. "I hope I can get more help from her. I also want to thank her face to face."
Chen added that he is most concerned with his family, and said, "I really want to know what's going on with them."
Chen is at the center of a diplomatic row between the U.S. and China that has become a political liability for President Obama. Chen was under house arrest for several months for protesting China's one-child policy, but escaped to the U.S. Embassy, where he stayed for several days.
The U.S. and China appeared to reach a deal Wednesday that allowed Chen to remain in China, where he said he wished to stay.
But after Chen was released to a Chinese hospital to have his injuries treated, the dissident said he did not want to stay in China and requested political asylum in the U.S.
Administration officials insisted they did not pressure Chen to stay in China and that he decided on his own initially that he wanted to remain in his country.
But the about-face has led to criticism from Republicans that U.S. officials never should have allowed him to leave the U.S. embassy.
Commission Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) spent the hearing arguing that the U.S. needs to ensure Chen's safety, and even GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said it is a "day of shame" for the Obama administration if they did leave him with Chinese officials.
24 comments:
China has a problem with this man because he spoke out against China's one child policy, and that is there problem to deal with it not our. That policy has nothing to do with the USA which means that we don't need to get involved with this problem that they are having. Since it is one of China's laws they have the right to deal with it they way they want too, America does not.
I love knowing that there is a person in China such as, Chen who is willing to stand up for the rights he believes people should be able to enjoy. I understand Chen is wanting help from our government but Chen needs to realize we have our own problems in America that we need to concentrate on and find solutions.
I seriously doubt Obama wants Chen to be harmed in any way but Obama has a lot of issues to deal with at this time. Our economy is still not at a level that shows stability and it is an election year.
Since the "crime" Chen committed was protesting China's one-child policy, we can assume that Chen is a family man. While he was safely in the US Embassy, his family (which I think consists of his wife and his daughter ((which makes him one of the few Chinese parents with a daughter (((this small percentage should frighten China in the years to come since the male to female ratio will be terribly, terribly unbalanced, and women will probably be in constant danger because of scarcity))) )) ) was still under unofficial house arrest, and Chen is right to worry about them. While Chen's safety is important, so is his family's, and the US should pay more attention to them for Chen's sake.
This is a very interesting article, it seems like one that is meant to stir up controversy among the candidates before the election. I do agree with the statement about that they shouldn't have let him leave the U.S. Embassy into Chinese care in the first place. But it is normal for someone to say they want to stay in one place and then change their mind for a better place to stay like the U.S..
This man is claiming that he is being persuicated and wants to seek political assylim in the US. What makes us believe his story is true? They are acting like he is a lost dog that they want to bring home, but what if he is not the harmless dog you thought and is actually a vishious dog trained to attack? I think this is a very touchy situation and should be looked into more carefully.
It is a very difficult position that President Obama had been placed in. On the whole, it is far more important that he maintain good relations with the Chinese government. However, in the little picture (which is what the public and opposing parties focus on) this seems like am obvious area in which a dissident should be given political asylum. Chen puts the US in a very difficult spot by requesting to meet with these high-ranking officials, especially given that his main argument is the one-child policy which can be argued necessary for Chinese population. It depends on how badly China wants to retain Chen. Ultimately, the US must remain on good terms with the Chinese government if not only for solely economic reasons. However, this will be an easy playground topic that the republicans will be able to seize as an opportunity to criticize Obama, which makes this dangerous for the president to avoid as election season is coming up.
Chen is a major sticking point in U.S.-Chinese diplomacy. Although the United States should support the progress of human rights throughout the world, it is not, nor should it be an asylum for every political dissident in the world. The situation is particularly complicated when the nation in question is the rising superpower of the 21st century. Although the US should attempt to secure Chen's safety and perhaps work to get him out of China, diplomats on both sides must keep in mind that this is a single Chinese citizen and that the issue should not escalate past negotiations.
I'm surprised by how much power the US Embassy has in protecting Chen. I think it's sad that the political conditions in China have forced Chen to seek escape from persecution there, but I'm glad that international politics make it possible for the US to protect Chen. However, it's sad to realize that many other people in China are persecuted or oppressed, and the US can't help the majority of these people.
Ever since Chen was released from house arrest all he wanted was to escape from a persecution which happened to be in a chinese hospital room. Obama... administration failed to get in touch with him... Obama just left Chens problem with the Chinese officals which was wrong. Obama could have done something at least.
This guy is insane. He has changed his mind so many times on whether or not he wants the United States' help or not. The way he uses his duel citizenship to skate around upcoming problems is rediculous. The United States has better things to do than deal with this guy.
This guy is insane. He has changed his mind so many times on whether or not he wants the United States' help or not. The way he uses his duel citizenship to skate around upcoming problems is rediculous. The United States has better things to do than deal with this guy.
Chen shouldn’t be getting this much help from the U.S. Embassy for protesting against the one child policy. I understand that over population in a major issue for china but I do not understand why he is getting special treatment from our government for going against his own. If he wants more than one child that bad it would be better for him to move rather than make a big scene. However, since the U.S. has already said that they would help him, even though he didn’t want it at first, they should still follow throw with letting him move out of his country. It would look bad for them to take it back now.
I think that Chen made a quick choice and really didn't think about the choice he was making. Especially with him going against China's "one child policy". He should have gone with the U.S. because at least there he's protected from harm. I believe President Obama should meet with Chinese officials to resolve this issue and help it not create further problems down the road between the two countries.
The U.S. Embassy should be a point of refuge all around the world, for both Americans and people practicing free speech that don't feel safe in their own countries. However, Chen should not have been forced to stay in the U.S. Embassy against his wishes. That borders on kidnapping. He should be allowed refuge if he wishes it and be allowed to walk freely if he does not.
This entire thing leaves me speechless and questioning what really is the Chinese government like? Officials are allowed to go to people, such as Chen, and beat the living crap out of them? And the government isn't doing anything about it? If that doesn't set off multiple alarms, then I don't know what will.
This seems to me like a lot of trouble to go through for one small angry paddy farmer. It's just surprising to me that some of the same people who think the focus of the US government should reside completely within the confines of our country are spending so much of their time talking about one chinese guy. It's not our problem! Let him figure it out. We have an embassy there so that our own executive branch doesn't have to deal with things like this. This type of thing comes of to me as an excuse for Republicans to criticize the Obama administration. But hey, that's politics.
Chen Guangcheng is just a liability for the U.S.. He originally said that he wanted to stay in China, so we let him. I don't think we have any responsibility for him after that. If we try to take him back again after we already reached an agreement with China and then tensions will rise and relations will go south.
I think that Chen has a right to protest what he believes in, but why did he bring America into this? I feel like he chose America as a refuge and didn't think about the political consequences that it would bring about.
This article is ambiguous. I don't understand why Chen wanted to leave China. Was it because of his protest against the one-child rule or the hospital? But it says that he wanted to stay in China after leaving the U.S. embassy so it's his own fault for leaving then wanting to come back to the U.S. whenever he has conflict at the hospital.
I disagree with Romney when he called it a "day of shame" because it is not Obama's responsibility as our president to deal with political activists in China who stir up trouble with his officials. If Obama had time to spare then I can see why that would be rude, but there are important things he has to deal with here that are a primary concern.
I disagree with Romney when he called it a "day of shame" because it is not Obama's responsibility as our president to deal with political activists in China who stir up trouble with his officials. If Obama had time to spare then I can see why that would be rude, but there are important things he has to deal with here that are a primary concern.
I is unfortunate that this is the the top of the Chinese-American agenda. There are many other items that could easily take precedence. But though relations are rocky, Chen's safety is of upmost importance. The US has an obligation to him, but should look to avoid similar situations in the future.
Chen should have the decision to himself whether he wants to stay in his country or not, but where should the line be drawn if it was known that he would be hurt? Many would agree that U.S. officials never should have allowed Chen to leave the embassy, but if he wanted to stay on account of his own choice then how can anyone else stand in the way? It is sad that he was injured, but if he knows the type of government system he lives in, it might have been wise for him to be more cautious.
Mr. Perry this is me not blogging!
MR. PERRY! i was so delighted to be in your presence for the second year. You allowed me to learn SO much about RUSSIA(; if you don't realize that was the quiz I took and litterally got a 0 on it and my dad came in because he didn't believe that I "studied" and got a 0. Funniest story of my life.
Thanks for being such an awesome teacher Mr. P!
Haylee Duke
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