Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng remained hospitalized over the weekend as Chinese and US officials hammered out the details of a deal to allow the blind lawyer to apply to study in the US, Reuters reported. Chen had sought refuge in the US embassy in Beijing for six days following an escape from house arrest in his native Shandong province. A tacit agreement between Chen, US and Chinese officials that the activist would stay in China and pursue studies at a Chinese university apparently broke down after Chen left the embassy for a Beijing hospital. Chen asked to be taken back to the US, citing concerns for the safety of his family. China’s Foreign Ministry offered a diplomatic fix on Friday, saying that like any other Chinese citizen, Chen would be allowed to study abroad if he wished. New York University announced it had offered Chen a position on Monday as a visiting scholar at the institution.
Categories