With Chen Guacheng’s confirmation that he is not seeking asylum in the United States, the US Government today said Mr. Chen Guangcheng has the same right to travel abroad as any other citizen of China.
In her remarks at DC, Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland
reported that Mr. Chen has been offered a fellowship from an American university, where he can be accompanied by his wife and two children.
She reports that the Chinese Government has indicated that it will accept Mr. Chen’s applications for appropriate travel documents.
The United States Government expects that the Chinese Government will expeditiously process his applications for these documents and make accommodations for his current medical condition, Ms. Nuland stressed.
Ms. Nuland indicated that the United States Government would then give visa requests for him and his immediate family priority attention.
“This matter has been handled in the spirit of a cooperative U.S.-China partnership.” -Ms. Nuland
In addition, in her remarks today at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue U.S. Press Conference in Beijing, US Secretary Clinton said from the beginning US efforts with Mr. Chen have been guided by his choices and values.
She announced that Mr. Chen confirms that he and his family now want to go to the United States so he can pursue his studies.
“In that regard, we are also encouraged by the official statement issued today by the Chinese Government confirming that he can apply to travel abroad for this purpose.” -Ms. Clinton
She noted that this is not just about well-known activists like Mr. Chen.
It’s about the human rights and aspirations of more than a billion people here in China and billions more around the world, Ms. Clinton underlined.
“So I think we have been very clear and very committed to honoring both his choices and our values.” -Ms. Clinton
Blind activist Chen Guangcheng has reportedly escaped the house arrest in the well-guarded house in Shandong village of Dongshigu earlier this week.
Chen Guangcheng has for years denounced abortion and forced sterilization in China.
Self-taught lawyer Chen exposed the systematic use of forced abortion and involuntary sterilization in implementing China’s One Child Policy. Time Magazine named him in its list of “2006’s Top 100 People Who Shape Our World,” in the category of “Heroes and Pioneers.” He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as well.
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid Association are spearheading an international effort to free Chen.
WRWF President Reggie Littlejohn stated, “The coercive enforcement of China’s One Child Policy causes more violence against women and girls than any other official policy on earth. It is the greatest women’s rights issue in the world today. It does not matter whether you are pro-life or pro-choice on this issue. No one supports forced abortion, because it is not a choice.”
Ms. Littlejohn said Chen Guangcheng is a hero in China, because he has had the courage to stand up against the hated One Child Policy. Chen exposed the systematic and widespread use of forced abortions and sterilizations in Linyi City in 2005. For this he was jailed for four years and three months, tortured, and denied medical treatment. Last year a video featuring Chen Guangcheng was leaked to the West.
Reports say Chen and his wife, Yuan Weijing, were “beaten senseless” in retaliation for the release of the video. They were denied medical treatment as well.
Reports say 130 thousand cases of forced terminations by the authorities for family planning were reported.
In 2006, Chen was sentenced to four years and three months. He was later released in September of 2010. The Chinese authorities have reportedly forced the total isolation of Chen, with his wife and his six year old daughter, unable to go to school.
