World

Blind Chinese Activist Chen Guangcheng Leaves for U.S.

Blind Chinese Activist Chen Guangcheng Leaves for U.S.

Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng left China for the U.S. on Saturday, nearly a month after he escaped from house arrest and triggered a strain on U.S.-China relations. (AP)

BEIJING (AP) — A blind Chinese activist was hurriedly taken from a hospital Saturday and boarded a plane that took off for the United States, closing a nearly month-long diplomatic tussle that had tested U.S.-China relations.

Chen Guangcheng, his wife and their two children were on United Airlines Flight 88, which took off late Saturday afternoon from the Beijing airport. The flight was scheduled to arrive in Newark, N.J., Saturday evening.

Earlier Saturday, Chen spoke to The Associated Press by phone from the airport, saying that he had left the hospital where he’d been staying and expected to leave for Newark, outside New York City.

“Thousands of thoughts are surging to my mind,” Chen said, sounding hurried but calm. To his supporters and others in the activist community, Chen expressed gratitude and indicated that he hoped to return.

“I am requesting a leave of absence, and I hope that they will understand,” he said.

Chen and his family were driven up to the plane in a vehicle resembling a minibus, and Chen could be seen being pushed in a wheelchair on the tarmac and then onto an elevator that took them up to a sky bridge that was connected to the plane.

Chen and his family’s departure to the United States marks the conclusion of nearly a month of uncertainty and years of mistreatment by local authorities for the self-taught legal activist who made a daring escape from abusive house arrest in his village last month.

His supporters welcomed his departure. “I think this is great progress. We are happy about it,” said U.S.-based rights activist Bob Fu. “It’s a victory for freedom fighters.”

Chen sought the protection of U.S. diplomats at the American Embassy in Beijing, triggering a diplomatic standoff days ahead of unrelated high-level talks on global hotspots and economic imbalances led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. After days of negotiations, the sides announced an agreement in which he and his family would be allowed to travel to the United States for him to study.

The departure of Chen, his wife and two children seemed hastily arranged and entirely orchestrated by Chinese and American officials with no apparent input from the activist.

Chen said he was informed at the hospital just before noon Saturday to pack his bags and get ready to leave. Officials did not give him and his family passports or inform them of their flight details until after they got to the airport.

Seeming ambivalent, Chen said that he was “not happy” about leaving and that he had a lot on his mind, including worries about retaliation against his extended family back home.

“I hope that the government will fulfill the promises it made to me, all of its promises,” Chen said. Such promises included launching an investigation into abuses against him and his family in Shandong province, he said before the phone call was cut off.

Chen and other activists fear authorities in Shandong province will punish Chen’s extended family for his audacious escape. Chen’s nephew, Chen Kegui, is accused of attempted murder after he allegedly used a kitchen knife to attack officials who stormed his house after discovering Chen Guangcheng was missing.

Chen Guangcheng had been awaiting permission to travel to the U.S. to take up an invitation to study law at New York University after he left the embassy on May 2 and was hospitalized for treatment of injuries sustained during his escape.

The State Department has said that U.S. visas for Chen, his wife and children were ready for them to travel to America. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it had no comment on Chen’s planned departure.

The 40-year-old Chen is emblematic of a new breed of activists that the Communist Party finds threatening. Often from rural and working-class families, these “rights defenders,” as they are called, are unlike the students and intellectuals from the elite academies and major cities who led the Tiananmen Square democracy movement.

A self-taught legal activist, Chen gained recognition for crusading for the disabled and fighting against forced abortions in his rural community. But he angered local officials and was convicted in 2006 on what his supporters say were fabricated charges. After serving four years in prison, he then faced an abusive and illegal house arrest.

Nanjing activist blogger He Peirong, who was instrumental in helping Chen escape from house arrest, said she was “very happy” to hear that Chen and his family were on their way to the United States.

“I hope that this will be a good beginning,” said He, who was detained for several days by police for helping Chen. “I hope that they will all be well and safe.”

Comments (45)

1 2
  • The-Monk
    Posted on May 20, 2012 at 5:41pm

    I didn’t know that NYU taught Law in Mandarin or Cantonese….

    Report Post » The-Monk  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on May 21, 2012 at 10:24am

      .
      NEWS FLASH:
      Nobody cares about this guy.
      He’ll probably teach law at Harvard, and never be heard from again.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on May 21, 2012 at 10:26am

      .
      China should pass a law allowing them to lock up dissidents without charges,
      like we have.
      We’re so “progressive.”

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
  • capnjack
    Posted on May 20, 2012 at 4:53am

    I suppose we’ll have to support him and his family now?

    Report Post » capnjack  
  • howardroark1165
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:54pm

    The way Hillary & Co. left him at the hospital in China I would have lost the bet of this happening.

    It is bizarre how this one happened. In the good old days when a Ruskie wanted to defect they’d show up at the US embassy or a safe house and then disappear, then months later pop up some where in the US, or, may never surface with their old identity.

    Report Post » howardroark1165  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:48pm

    If Chen knew what America has become, he would stay in China. Employers are rushing to get out of this country because of taxes and this POS President allows a blind man to come here who will file for santuary checks. Worthless.

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • Rob_M
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:47pm

    I actually think think this is a good thing. We finally did something to irk china instead of them slapping us around every day.

    Report Post » Rob_M  
  • OhSnappage
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:21pm

    There is something about this Chen story that is not sitting right with me. Too many holes in the story, yet it plays on American sympathy. Why extradict him to the US?

    Did our founders extradict rebellion leaders to France? If they did we never would have become the great independant nation we are today.

    Report Post » OhSnappage  
  • LameLiberals
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 6:15pm

    I hope this guy and his family ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY TAXPAYER MONEY now or in the future Otherwise he is just another LEECH on the system.

    Report Post »  
  • rahgoo
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 5:57pm

    Nobody in America wants or needs Chen, it is a war mongers trick. Send him back with a seeing eye dog.

    Report Post » rahgoo  
  • sheria-never
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 5:20pm

    what you bet hes a muzzlim…… !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » sheria-never  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 4:38pm

    TSA better give him a good once over.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • bjornskis
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 4:30pm

    and who is paying for this guy?

    Report Post »  
  • AmazingGrace8
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:04pm

    @sawbuck

    Was having issues & viruses so the great people at “The Geek-Squad“ took care of the problems and also gave me some tips on how to ”not-respond” to a pop-up when you are on a site. Live & Learn. Too bad the people that are sending out viruses to mess up the computer world couldn’t do “good-things“ in this world to benefit others in lieu of being ”on-line-terrorists”. So sad.

    Report Post »  
  • sheria-never
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:37pm

    Let me get this straight, in order to attend a university, one has to graduate from a high school with sufficient grades, score well on pre entrance examination, and have sufficient funds for books food and housing.

    So, Obama/Hillary…” rescue” a Chinese ”dissident”, self educated…., hide him in some hospital………,, put him and his family on a plane to the United States to attend New York University? AND the taxpayer once again is HOSED………….

    He is worried about his extended family, will Hillary be rounding them up for a trip to the United States also? 8-10-50……… how many?

    My God …….we can’t take four more years of this nincompoop president.

    Report Post » sheria-never  
  • Tom70
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:02pm

    The trade off was probably we get another welfare recipient and Obama gives China the the plans to a aircraft carrier.

    Report Post »  
  • rahgoo
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:54am

    Blind man Chen was interrogated by a woman while a rotten fish was held under his nose. He promised to confess if the interrogator took a bath.

    Report Post » rahgoo  
  • Fitzzz
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:18am

    What was the trde off to get him here?
    I have a feeling the American people are getting screwed again, so Obama looks like he knows what he’s doing

    Report Post »  
  • Mary Wilson-1
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:46am

    USA should help its own citizen illegally blocked in China for 4 years come home!!!
    https://www.change.org/petitions/help-my-father-dr-zhicheng-hu-come-home

    Report Post »  
  • rahgoo
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:37am

    We must keep the freedom gates wide open for Chen and other Chinese professionals. Many are computer scientists who are desperately needed by America’s high-tech industries. But China will not let them go unless we give them millions of rice harvesters in exchange. The rice fields of China are unattended; most harvesters have fled to the big cities where the wages are higher. Rice harvesters for China are available; they are our convicts, deadbeat dads, the unemployable, heroin addicts, illegal aliens, and other human waste. Let’s turn China into America’s garbage dump, and bring Chinese professionals without their families to America.

    Report Post » rahgoo  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:37am

      …and for YOU…a great big “LIKE!!”. :>)

      Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:16am

    In oder to obtain Chen’s freedom. Clinton and Geithner’s part in the deal was to sign off on Communists China buying an 80% stake in an American susidiary of Bamk of East Asia for 140 million dollars.
    The Obama administration gives in to China‘s demands over one dissentant’s family’s release by giving Communists China a foothold in the American banking system.
    China‘s puppet North Korea couldn’t be stopped with free food. Perhaps the administration should consider offering North Korea a piece of NASA, for a price of course.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:22am

      @nobaloney That is Clinton and geithners fault for not hammering a better deal, like an even swap, It‘s not Chen’s fault. Obama has a bad mark for bungelling this whole matter.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • tradexpertbuysell
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:29am

      Sounds like China is getting more friendly to God’s people than we currently are. I‘m surprised the ACLU hasen’t objected to they’re comming here!

      Welcome to America Chen and family! May your efforts in China and the world bear abundant fruit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

      Report Post »  
  • justangry
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:50am

    If we let all the activists flee their countries and come here, who is going to stay in these countries to influence positive change?

    Report Post » justangry  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:07am

      @Justangry This is one of the hardest hearted things I think I have read here yet. The Chinese shoved electictified rods up his *** during his torture, this makes him a RAPE victim, he will be dead if he stays.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • mernijo
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:23am

      @justangry
      New leaders for these groups will rise up to take charge. The movement leader to come to USA brings attention to their cause. Perhaps they will become part of the world’s Persecuted Church and many will continue to pray for them; their safety and God’s protection as they witness to others saving them from eternal banishment from His presence.

      Report Post » mernijo  
    • justangry
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:41pm

      @Papa, I wasn’t aware of that, just thinking out loud. I’m more guilty of skimming too quickly over this material, than being cold hearted.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • Romyers
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:37am

    I feel for this guy, but this is wrong. In 2006, while I was in Israel going through divorce and custody hearings with my now Israeli ex-wife, her lawyers convinced a judge to put a no exit order on my passport to secure suppot. I found out later Israeli law forbids holding foreigners for this reason. Anyway, the US Embassy would not get involved and would not meet with me. I was on my own and I am an American. Israeli law also won’t allow for me to work to support myself.

    Report Post »  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:53am

      @Romyers
      Chen’s case sounds nothing like yours. Chen was doing activism to help others. He was tortured severely in ways I cannot print here. He remaining family is in serious danger there. Police stormed the private home of his family many times now. Chen is a lawyer and is here to finish his degree in peace.
      Sounds like your wife just played you.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • crazyrightwingmom
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:01pm

      PapaL still a case of our government doing the wrong thing.

      Report Post »  
  • pdw
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:26am

    It took long enough but glad they will be safe from the evil that is taking place in China. Now we need to get rid of the evil that is taking place here.

    Report Post »  
  • MiCurmudgeon
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:54am

    Just what we need …a protesting foreign student who will take the place in a US university at US taxpayer’s expense. We turn our back on murders in Syria and fiddle phart around with this.

    Report Post »  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:39am

      @MiCurmudgeon
      We should have let Chen and his family in months ago, It’s a mark on Obama for the delay.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:26am

      Chen is a Pro-Life activist. Lets hope he doesn’t die of culture shock when working at a university here.

      Report Post » thekuligs  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:35am

    (off topic) ..
    What’s up with all ..the “error messages”.. On the Blaze..
    I’m see them all over the place…OR…
    Is it just my computer…?

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:03am

      More off topic: If you ever watch Hannity, you have seen Tamara Holder on there arguing the liberal line in panel discussions. It came out yesterday that she’s been having an affair with Jesse Jackson! LOL

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • momrules
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:06am

      Sawbuck……….I have them too, was wondering what is up.

      Report Post »  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:40am

      @sawbuck mine works fine, I’ts probly your own comp. Try using Mozilla Firefox, or reboot windows now before it gets all worse.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:39am

      @sawbucks UPDATE, i just got the error messages on every comment on this story.
      looks like this
      “Error: Unable to create directory /var/local/www/theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05. Is its parent directory writable by the server? ”
      Must be the blaze.

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:06pm

      Thank you to all that responded…I guess the blaze has/had a hiccup on their system today….Thanks again.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
  • ChildofJesus
    Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:34am

    Good luck Chen..God bless you and I hope you do better here then China.

    Report Post »  
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