Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in China on Wednesday in what promises to be a challenging trip. For the past week prominent Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has reportedly been given refuge in the US embassy after escaping house arrest. Guo Yushan, a Chinese human rights activist who is close with Chen has told media that the dissident wants to remain in China and will not seek political asylum outside of the country.
Chen, a blind and self educated attorney, gained notoriety for his staunch advocacy on behalf of Chinese women. In 2005 he hit local officials in Shandong province with a class action lawsuit on behalf of women forced into late term abortions. He also accused local authorities of beating women and forcing sterilizations. Such practices have been documented by human rights groups as a side effect of China’s one-child policy. Some close to Chen at the time thought that he was pursuing an aggressive legal strategy against local party leaders in the hopes of gaining the attention and support of national leaders.
After giving an interview with Time Magazine in 2006, Chen was arrested on minor charges and without benefit of defense counsel was sentenced to 4 years in prison. After his release in 2011, Mr. Chen was placed under house arrest and was monitored by Chinese security forces. Some reports suggested that he and his wife faced physical abuse from those guarding him. Chen reportedly laid the ground work for his escape by exacerbating the symptoms of a flu. Chen then snuck out of his home on April 22, and navigated his way to safety.
There has been no official word from China or the United States on the escape and sheltering. It is a delicate situation for both countries. President Obama is facing a tough reelection fight and the Chinese government is preparing for a leadership transition next year. Secretary Clinton has indicated that she will raise human rights issues when she meets with her counterparts in Beijing. “A constructive relationship includes talking very frankly about those areas where we do not agree, including human rights,” she said. President Obama has also recently raised the human rights issue with regard to China, suggesting that observing human rights would make China even “more prosperous and strong.”
The situation further complicates an already potentially contentious visit. Talks were expected to focus on long standing disputes on currency, investment and trade. Washington, was also hoping for closer cooperation from China on North Korea and Syria.
