Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Earlier today, we saw reports that Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese dissident who has been oppressed because of his powerful activism against China's forced abortion policy, left the U.S. embassy where he'd sought refuge. The headlines emphasized that he'd been "reunited" with his family. Now, the Associated Press reveals that he left the embassy under the most horrible conditions:
BREAKING --AP: Chen tells AP he was told Chinese officials would have killed his wife had he not left embassy
And one of the people who helped Chen escape, He Peirong, is herself detained now.
At about 5:00 a.m. Dublin time, I skyped Peirong one last time and she did not answer. She had been detained, and no one has heard from her since. We don’t know if Peirong is being tortured or whether her detention will last days, months or years.
In pressing for Chen’s freedom, let us also press for the freedom of his rescuer, He Peirong, a hero in her own right. She stood up for Chen during his time of greatest need. The least we can do is stand by her as she pays a terrible price for her courage.
I wish that the United States had done more to ensure Chen's safety and that of his family and friends. I'm not sure if anything could have been done, but the response of China shows that this regime -- beloved as it may be by New York Times columnists -- remains one of the most oppressive in the world.
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Comments:
Aug '11
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
I know it's probably unfair to Mr. Friedman but I would like some "China for a Day" jokes at his expense-- and the expense of all the others who would sell out freedom of conseince for a wi-fi cloud. I'd come up with some of my own if I were more clever.
The situation isn't a joking matter, but in general I don't think it's a joking matter to give a state the type of control that China has. One can't give the state control just to build hi-speed rail, or modernize the airports. Unfortunately, life doesn't work like that.
It also raises interesting questions as to how the US will engage in diplomacy in China. When we sell China all this debt, do we pretend this stuff doesn't happen? Or do we say that these human rights abuses are really "none of our business?" I'm not pretending the situation breaks cleanly along left/right lines, but I' m putting my thoughts out there.
May '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Everybody is afraid of an iPod shortage. If we don't let Massa Mao keep da slaves in line, who is gonna build our trinkets?
Oct '11
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
This is very sad news. He and his wife will probably both be killed now.
Nov '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
State Department employees know no shame.
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Grim news -- and not surprising. I would like to think that Hillary Clinton and the US State Department did all that they could for the man, but I fear otherwise.
It is interesting that dissidents still look to the United States as a beacon. I wonder how much longer we will retain our stature in this regard.
Apr '12
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
This is why our mountain of debt is also a foreign policy issue...
May '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Professor Rahe, I fear that our government may have done all it could to get this man out of our embassy. On a prior post I commented that I wished Mr. Chen refuge at the U.S. Embassy, but that I feared he would have to rely on luck. Tragically, I see he will have neither.
May '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
It's wise to engage in diplomacy with one's enemies. But diplomacy does not require pretending to be friends.
Mar '11
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
The Chinese are demanding an apology. Wonder if Obama will give 'em one?
Jul '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Very disheartening news. What evidence do we have that all the economic friendliness with China has changed their society to be more open? The laogai persist, religious movements are persecuted, and the citizens remain terrorized by the Party bosses. For all the Western blather about defense of human rights, we have a record of impotence in actually stopping abuses.
Dec '10
Re: Guangcheng Leaves Embassy For Wife's Life
Poor bastard.
His wife was gonna die, and now they're both gonna die, plus the gal that helped him escape in the first place.
Damned commies . . .