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Subscribe to RSSFriends of Chen Guangcheng say they drove him 300 miles from his village to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
Updated at 11:15 a.m. ET: Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is under U.S. protection after a bold escape from 19 months under house arrest, sources told NBC News on Monday, a revelation that looked sure to complicate Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's looming trip to Beijing.
"My sources tell me that Chen is, indeed, under U.S. protection in Beijing. Now we don't know whether that means he's actually within the walls of the American Embassy compound, or in a diplomatic safe house, but he's definitely in U.S. hands there," NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell said on TODAY Monday.
The United States has not given any public confirmation of reports that Chen, who reportedly slipped away from under the noses of guards and surveillance equipment around his village home in Shandong province on April 22, fled to the U.S. Embassy.
Rights group: China, US in talks over blind activist Chen Guangcheng
Chen, a self-schooled legal advocate who campaigned against abortions forced under China's "one child" policy, was held under extra-legal detention in his village home in Linyi from September 2010, when he was released from jail for charges he said were spurious.
Reuters
Chen's wife, Yuan Weijing, and child did not escape with him, and human rights activists have voiced worry that they and Chen's other relatives might have suffered abuse at the hands of police and officials angry about his escape.
The questions surrounding the activist are casting a pall over the upcoming high-level meeting in Beijing, which would have been challenging for Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner even without a human rights dispute.
Read more China coverage on our Behind The Wall blog
"There are very delicate negotiations under way ... in advance of Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's annual talks this week," Mitchell said.
The May 3-4 Strategic & Economic Dialogue is the last of such annual consultations before political seasons heat up in the United States and China, giving leaders in both countries less flexibility over contentious economic and security issues.
The United States goes into full campaign mode for the November presidential election, while China's ruling Communist Party enters a leadership transition in the fall that has been complicated by a scandal that toppled senior leader Bo Xilai.
Corruption may be widespread in China, but one official crossed a line when he wiretapped President Hu Jin Tau. Now that official's wife is a murder suspect. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Bob Fu, whose religious and political rights advocacy group ChinaAid who has been the chief source of information about Chen, said he had confirmed "intensive talks" between the United States and China began right after the activist took shelter in the embassy.
"I was told the Chinese top leaders have been deliberating a decision to be made very soon," Fu said on Sunday by telephone from Texas. A "Chinese official response (is) expected in the next day or so," he added.
Who is Fu? Chinese exile is 'God's double agent'
The European Union, meanwhile, urged China show "utmost restraint" over Chen.
"We call on the Chinese authorities to exercise utmost restraint in dealing with the matter, including avoiding harassment of his family members or any person associated with him," the Delegation of the European Union to China said in a statement. "Human rights defenders should be treated in full compliance with Chinese laws and constitution."
China has declined direct public comment on Chen's reported escape.
NBC News, msnbc.com staff and Reuters contributed to this report.
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- Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng escapes from house arrest
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As a non US Citizen I'm trying to figure out how this guy even got through the gate at our Embassy.
i was actually at the us embassy in bejing a couple years ago. there were two outside entrances, each guarded by 2 chinese military dudes. to get in, i had to show my u.s. passport. once through the gate you are on u.s. soil, and there were quite a few marines at the entrance to the building. i could see how a guy could jump the fence, it wasnt much of a fence, and once on the other side, he would have been offered protection if asking for political asylum. but yeah, im with you, getting onto the grounds to begin with would have been fairly ballsy.
"As a non US Citizen I'm trying to figure out how this guy even got through the gate at our Embassy."
How about inside help ?
Last time something like this happened, US marines were out fetching the dissident.
Did it really take 20 hours for him to complete his escape? That is incredible, I think he had them walk him through the village over the cell phone. I don't think I could have done it. It took to much time for me to do it myself. I bet his helpers had maps of the village and knew where cameras were and guard positioning and guard changes and other help. Still 20 hours is to long for me, he must of had some good hiding places too. I wonder if he had a GPS positioner, so they could see just where he was or something like that and tell him where to walk to.
For how long? Obama gave back the police chief who sought safety in the embassy, bur it was done very quietly.
Yeah, that's a bit different...
The police chief was just seeking personal protection, and was a corrupt government official. Chen is a famous democracy advocate. The US will NOT look good if we give him up without any strings attached.
so the blind guy breaks out of what is basically a prison, and past armed gaurds? how the hell did that happen? why didnt his wife and kid make it out with him? gotta be embarrassing as hell trying to explain that the blind man escaped from house arrest with armed guards to their superiors.
US embassy is the only place in china where these chinese activists like chen feels safe and secure. US embassy is the only place in china where these chinese activists like chen can practice their freedom of speech and their human rights are being respected. Chinese activists like chen will be dead if US authority hand him back to chinese government.
I'm going to try to respond to those who are complaining baselessly here about Chen's "cowardice."
1. There is no evidence so far that he wants to leave China. His friends have all said he doesn't. It is more like he wants the US as a worldwide bastion of democracy and freedom (whether or not we deserve that reputation) to make a point on his behalf.. Not to flee. In fact, it maybe that the Chinese government wants him to leave China - at our hands - more than he does,
2. He did not put his relatives in danger with his escape. They were already in danger, by all reports... Dismissed from jobs, beaten, surveilled, detained, just because they were close to him. He may have gone to us for help on their behalf because he had no place else to turn, figuring that more pubicity and some strong statements from our secretary of state - who is highly respected in China - might just improve his situation and that of his relatives..
Not good. To risk family lives is not a good thing.He did not care about anyone else except himself..Its the blind leading the blind..
Uh... considering that he's already been imprisoned and persecuted for advocating democracy, don't you think it's a little ridiculous to accuse him of selfishness?
I mean, if you think his family should be more important to him than his cause, whatever, but to say that he "does not care about anyone else" is clearly untrue.
Dont you think Democracy is a Failed system here in the USA?Due to the fact it is (Democracy) is corrupted by the Political System? We are no more free than Chen...Did you know that the USA has more Laws than the whole world combine? What is wrong with this picture?Say as you will, but Man is the Beast. Those who are above you, are your Master..Regardless..
No, I don't think democracy is a failed system. Your assertion as to our relative freedom is absurd. I can't imagine having to escape or defend myself from an expansive government security network for speaking out for my political beliefs.
And still, none of that makes Chen's efforts any less noble. So he's still not a selfish man.
He is just following ancient PRC historical cultural heritage when he abandoned his wife and kids. Mao did it at least three times to three different wives before 1949. He refused to look for his abandoned baby after he became the head of state of PRC. Chen is in great company, and is following the steps of revolutionaries.
Okay, let's be fair about this. Standing up to a totalitarian, vast security apparatus for the sake of your beliefs is never easy or safe. I don't claim to know how his family felt about this or how concerned he is for their welfare, but there is a calculation to be made. If he hadn't taken this opportunity to leave right before the US has these meetings with China, any efforts he would have made from the "safety" of house arrest would have been negligible in comparison.
Does that make it right? Well, that's an open question. Some people think he should put his family first, fine. But he's not the bad guy here, nor is he doing anything unethical. I think cynical comments about him following Communist "culutural heritage" are both misguided and missing the point.
The US is sticking it's nose in every country around the world while our economy here goes to hell. Why are we helping other countries when we have a 15 trillion dollar deficit?
Because of the patriot act, americans are slowly losing our rights...I don't give a sh_t about chinese rights!
And like we really need this now , we are helping the Al Qaeda rebels in Syria because the rich gulf states want Assad out, but in China why we even want to start trouble with them , I guess over human rights, Why don't we go to Saudi Arabia ,QATAR,Bahrain,Kuwait,our Allies and check on there human rights, Hypocrisy always when it comes to our so called Friends, they get by with murder, Just like the Saudis do , they financing Al Qaeda and they still our Friends, Amazing .
So if you think we should challenge the human rights record in SA, Quatar, etc, why do you oppose standing up for human rights in Syria or China, Turn?
For that matter, don't you oppose all intervention in sovereign countries? That's the impression I've gotten.
I support pressure for universal respect for human rights in all countries, ally and enemy. Why do you only seem to be concerned with human rights in those countries that America has good ties with?
Because SF you have the slightest idea what you talking about when it comes to Syria, these thugs are no freedom fighters , you know some people called the Iraqi insurgents Freedom fighters we called them terrorists. Same deference here SF , You do not know anything about them rebels in Syria , Thugs and Al Qaeda left overs from the war in Iraq .
Yeah, I know that you buy the Syrian news' claim that they're fighting a terrorist insurgency and not an actual rebellion. Whatever. This article isn't about Syria. But that doesn't answer my question. Especially about China.
Do you think the US should stand up for human rights in all countries or stay out of all countries' affairs to respect their "sovereignty"? Would interfering in China be okay if we were willing to interfere with Saudi Arabia too? Which is it? You accuse me of hypocrisy and flip-flopping, but I'm having a hard time pinning down your opinion.
I think we should interfere in all countries with systematic political oppression and gross human rights violations. That includes Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as China, North Korea and Syria (because you can't deny that Assad is politically oppressive and violating human rights by imprisoning or torturing people, can you?). So where do you stand?
So you owe the bank $100,000 in mortgage is your reason for not giving to the poor ?
No SF my opinion is , we should stay the hell out everybody business , so they stay out of ours , I was just giving you an example , but off course like you do with everybody opinions you twisted around , Are you sure you not one of these Tea Party that belong to Sarah Palin and Michelle Bauckman , I bet you are. Because you sure sound like one of them , and if you want to know the truth buddy , I know you always want proof. I have a christian family that live in Syria and they are seeing your Freedom fighters murders and they are not not no civilians that just took arms , most of these Al Qaeda thugs are not from Syria , Sure there is some army officers that left to Turkey and they are nit happy with the Assad regime , But in Syria there is so many people that love Assad and he Protects the Christians and allow them freedom , unlike these rebels that murdering them and burning their churches , so SF I am not just saying that , I saw what these people can do , they murder their own family if they do not agree with them , so do not sit here and try top preach to me , its not going to work , I remember before the Iraq war , we had all these people on TV from Iraq off course they were defectors from the Saddam regime , they were telling us they new where all the WMD and the Nuke facilities and all that crap , I do not see one single guy that showed us anything , SF that's how these people work , and these days its so easy to fabricate things and videos, its amazing the things they do , the guy that suppose to be the Syrian human rights in London , is a restaurant owner and he is a Muslim brother hood guy that left Syria long time ago for starting trouble there when Assad father was in power , Yes Assad Father killed people in Hama , a large city in Syria but at that time the Muslim brother hood went in to the city and Murdered the Christians and the Alwites and robbed their shops and destroyed their homes , I Wonder what would Pres. Obama do , And isn't that exactly what we did in Fellujaha Iraq when the had an upraise against the NATO invasion . we bombed the city with heavy weapons and a=the air force leveled half of that city , do you want me to keep going , that's what we did in Vietnam and Afghanistan now , IF HAVE TIME BUDDY i WILL TELL STORIES ABOUT YOUR FREEDOM FIGHTERS.
Blah blah blah, protecting Christians excuses Assad's cruel oppression, yadda yadda, people love Assad as long as his tanks aren't aiming at them, and so on and so forth.
Yeah, like I said. Whatever. This isn't the Syria story, and I'm not going to start that argument here. The rebellion isn't over yet, so I'll have plenty of opportunities to argue with you about that.
I'm just glad I got a straight answer out of you. Fine, so you think we should stay out of other countries' business.
I disagree entirely. And I see no value in them staying out of our business. If we do something wrong, other countries should call us on it. If America should start oppressing its own citizens, taking political prisoners and executing dissidents without a trial (which our government can do now if it wants), I WANT other countries, even China if it so happens that way, to come in and demand that our government stop. No government has the right to abuse its people. If they want to challenge us on something, let them. If we can't defend our interests, then that's a problem that should be addressed. I don't see any compelling reason to "mind our own business" where entire nations are concerned.
This is crazy how we pretend to defend people and human rights in China. Why can't we do that at home? People do not realize how many people are being wrongfully convicted in this country. They do not realize how many people are being persecuted by various governmental agencies just because they reveal the TRUTH. We should stay away from getting involved in Chinese problems. We have plenty of the same problems in USA, but we fail to address them properly.
Really, now?
I do not realize how many people are wrongfully convincted or persecuted for telling the truth. Why don't you enlighten me?
Not that I think our problems here should stop us from applying pressure for human rights abroad, but I still want to hear your evidence that people are being persecuted for revealing the "truth".
Gee, if we piss off the Chinese, where will Wal-Mart get their poisoned dog and cat food and which broken, deadly child's toy will we have to miss out on this Christmas? I can't imagine life without our 'best buds' doing their level best to send us overpriced, badly made goods that we simply cannot live without!
This is a laugh riot! I'm sure we'll turn this guy over to the Chinese government to keep them happy (like we've always done).. What the hell ever happened to NOT doing business with countries that refuse to give their citizens BASIC 'human rights'?
Chinese citizens do have BASIC human rights. They are no longer Communist, even though the government is still run by the Communist party.
There are sharp limits on freedom of speech, politics, and there's endemic corruption in the central government, but that's certainly nothing compared to the atrocities of Mao or the Kim dynasty in North Korea.
That said, I wish Chen well and hope we help him in any way we can.
SF you want go and help one man in china and risk the whole relations with that country that we do lots of Bus. with, But you do not want to go to Bahrain and rescue thousands of people been prosecuted by the king there, oh sorry we do not get oil from china and Saudi Arabia will be upset because their army in Bahrain beating yo on all these innocents demonstrators .
Gee SF, I guess you've kind of forgotten all about little ol' Tibet, right? Whose people have been mass murdered and scattered to the four winds? Remember them? Do you think THEY get any 'basic human rights' under Chinese law??
Listen, Doofus, there is no such thing as 'SHARPLY LIMITING' freedom of speech or the right to run for public office OR the right to VOTE in a DEMOCRATIC ELECTION! You either have these AS basic human rights or you DON'T! period! There is NO middle ground on this!!
Sure there is. There's lots of middle ground.
For example, political representation is not a basic human right. Chinese don't get that. They do, however, have a right to a trial when accused of breaking a law. That is a basic human right.
The catch? The trials are conducted by a judiciary that's controlled by the Communist party, so there's no guarantee that justice is served, as opposed to those in power. Ordinary crimes are persecuted fairly, but what if there's a powerful political figure involved? Murky.
That right there is a middle ground, Susie. Though I'm not in the habit of standing up for China, and I'd appreciate it if I didn't have to do so again for the sake of your greater understanding.
And to My Turn, I don't support Bahrain's efforts to oppress its people either. Although I don't want us to invade the country or anything, if there were Bahraini (Bahrainians?) seeking asylum, I'd want to help them too.
Walmart can get cheap junks you buy from Vietnam, Poland, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan... and other hundred countries.
This has been going on long before Obama. From Nixon, to Reagan, to Bush and beyond. When you sleep with the enemy, the truth will eventually rear its ugly head. But who is at fault? The American public, that's who!
MSpielman
They're not friends, they're business partners. They're the main financiers of our ballooning national debt." MSpielmanIit seems that you have been watching lot of Fair and balance news to believe that the "Financiers of our ballooning national debt " are the Chinese. In fact about 14% is to China, about 8% to EU and the rest give or take is guess who.....Us, we the people. My question is how in the hell a blind man escaped house arrest. I am starting to believe that nothing that the Chinese made has any quality when a blind man escaped tight security provided by the Red government. Good for Chen and hope his family is safe.
US/Chinese foreign policy has always been a delicate dance. Over time, the Chinese people will force their government to respect free speech. An occasional nudge by the President can't hurt.
Valhalla Press
"Chinese people will force their government" ? When was the last time that happened ? (1949, under a much more humane government). I won't hold my breath for this, and so shouldn't you.
US/Chinese foreign policy has always been a delicate dance. Over time, the Chinese people will force their government to respect free speech. An occasional nudge by the President can't hurt.
Anniken, Valhalla Press
Good thing he's not Christian or he'd be in big trouble with Hillary and Half&Half
The blind man was under house arrest and was not in any apparent danger. Escort him back to the Chinese authorities and quit making a mountain out of a mole hill. One incident or one man is not going to change the history or relationship of two major countries unless there is extortion, fraud or a conspiracy.
It was illegal house arrest = kidnapping.
Amazing how the Christian right, the Arizona right and the Obama haters respond with such little comprehension, information and their constant dedication to one dimensional thought. Listen to nothing new and shut reason out - the motto of the right wing USA, k now everything population. Actually, each of you probably knows about four to five things or facts in your entire repertoire. So, go drink a Budweiser, get drunk, shoot an illegal, run down a homosexual with your truck, bomb a planned parenthood clinic, shoot a Doctor who performs legal abortions, burn a few books including "Catcher in the Rye", Burn all photos of FDR, the Grand Coulee Dam, the TVA accomplishments, memories of the CC, and of course stop teaching evolution in our schools, get back to one religion only. How pathetic you zealots are and remain. Without fresh thoughts or ideas, the mind becomes a paradise for serpents.
The blind man somehow got there. Two writers have stated that he was allowed to go there so the USA could grant him asylum and take him off the worry list of the Chinese. Sounds plausible.
Oh by the way - Obama/Biden 2012
I wonder if the rumor's true that CIA is looking for blind candidates so they can slip in and out of China without attracting attention.?.
This whole "escape" scenario does sound a bit farfetched...Is there a Chinese hand somewhere involved to deflect the world's glaring stare at the other scandal with the murdered Brit...?
Give the manipulative ChiComs some credit....
i believe in standing up for human rights BUT the US has to learn to butt out.
This is their bussiness not ours. Yea and his a good person leaving wife and kid..Not
Yea..bring them over here like we dont have enough ppl.we should all pratice our own
birthcontrol we take enough ppl in US so they can breed,
live off goverment.
China has the idea but forcing sterlization wrong.They are other
forms of birthcontrol.Im sure tho China wouldnt mind Letting them having kids
BUT look at the population too many ppl.U can barely walk.
All 3rd world contries should have some sort of birthcontrol weather they believe in it or not
instead they wanna watch their kids starve and ask for hand outs
Are you suggesting the the US should kick Chen out of the Embassy into the hands of PRC thugs ? You are all heart. Must be an american.
Dramatic escape? Get real. The Chinese have played us like a masterful game of chess. Chinese dissidents are not routinely kept in a state of public, house arrest unless it serves them. Dissidents in China just disappear. In December, a CNN camera crew and American celebrity (Christian Bale) are allowed in the country and just as they approach the dissident’s village, they are dramatically roughed-up. Whoa, this blind guy must be important, right? The U.S. makes public statements in support of the blind guy. He must really be important!
Now, what a coincidence that this blind, “important” guy “escapes” just before Secretary Clinton arrives in China and is now in U.S. hands. The Chinese position has been strengthened and the U.S. weakened. We will give in to Chinese demands and soften our human rights rhetoric in exchange for the blind guys safe passage out of the country. This is a win-win for China. Their negotiation position is strengthened while the U.S. is weakened and the Chinese get a minor political thorn removed from their soil. This is political chess at it’s best.
I hope he is in the US Embassy and not some safe house. PRC thugs are not above rushing a US safe house, even if it is protected by US marines.
If a blind man can see what the Chinese government could not...... and if the blind man can run while the Chinese official could not....... and if the whole world have known it and the Chinese government is still looking for.......... What is missing in Chinese government? What was I referring to? Human rights!