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Chen Guangcheng can apply to study abroad, China says Chen Guangcheng can apply to study abroad, China says
(about 4 hours later)
Hopes of a potential resolution to the crisis over activist Chen Guangcheng's future have revived after the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement saying he can apply to study abroad.Hopes of a potential resolution to the crisis over activist Chen Guangcheng's future have revived after the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement saying he can apply to study abroad.
A state news agency report on the comments was carried prominently on Chinese news websites — possibly hinting that Beijing was willing to consider another deal. Chen had initially agreed to remain in China and study, with reassurances on his safety from the government, but changed his mind after leaving the US embassy in Beijing. A state news agency report on the comments was carried prominently on Chinese news websites – possibly hinting that Beijing was willing to consider another deal. Chen had initially agreed to remain in China and study, with reassurances on his safety from the government, but changed his mind after leaving the US embassy in Beijing.
In a surprise telephone call to a US congressional hearing on Thursday night, Chen repeated his request to go to the US with his family and asked to meet the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. He has said he does not want to seek asylum, but to rest and study. The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, speaking in Beijing on Friday, said she was encouraged by China's statement and believed "progress has been made" in helping Chen determine his future. She confirmed he had been in contact with the US ambassador to China, Gary Lock.
"Chen Guangcheng is currently being treated in hospital," the foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said. In a surprise telephone call to a US congressional hearing on Thursday night, Chen repeated his request to go to the US with his family and asked to meet Clinton. He has said he does not want to seek asylum, but to rest and study.
"Chen Guangcheng is currently being treated in hospital," the foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Friday.
"If he wants to study abroad, he can apply through normal channels to the relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen.""If he wants to study abroad, he can apply through normal channels to the relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen."
Liu had not previously responded to questions on whether Chen could travel abroad.Liu had not previously responded to questions on whether Chen could travel abroad.
"It is extremely ambiguous, but its timing suggests a possibly positive, symbolic shift in the Chinese government's stance on Chen Guangcheng and his future status," said Phelim Kine, of Human Rights Watch."It is extremely ambiguous, but its timing suggests a possibly positive, symbolic shift in the Chinese government's stance on Chen Guangcheng and his future status," said Phelim Kine, of Human Rights Watch.
"It remains to be seen whether the Chinese government is going to follow up on this with concrete actions to allow him the right to have a passport and freely travel abroad. It's up to the US and other foreign governments to keep up the pressure on the Chinese government to loosen the chokehold on Chen Guangcheng and his family.""It remains to be seen whether the Chinese government is going to follow up on this with concrete actions to allow him the right to have a passport and freely travel abroad. It's up to the US and other foreign governments to keep up the pressure on the Chinese government to loosen the chokehold on Chen Guangcheng and his family."
Several Chinese newspapers launched a co-ordinated assault on Chen and the US on Friday, with commentaries describing the blind activist as a pawn and criticising the US ambassador.Several Chinese newspapers launched a co-ordinated assault on Chen and the US on Friday, with commentaries describing the blind activist as a pawn and criticising the US ambassador.
"Chen Guangcheng has become a tool and a pawn for American politicians to blacken China," the Beijing Daily said."Chen Guangcheng has become a tool and a pawn for American politicians to blacken China," the Beijing Daily said.
But the official news agency, Xinhua, and the Communist party paper, the People's Daily, did not carry such pieces, suggesting to some that there might be disagreement among Chinese leaders about how to handle the case.But the official news agency, Xinhua, and the Communist party paper, the People's Daily, did not carry such pieces, suggesting to some that there might be disagreement among Chinese leaders about how to handle the case.
Earlier, Chen had told Associated Press his situation was dangerous, with US officials blocked from seeing him. Speaking from his Beijing hospital — now surrounded by police — he said he had two unsuccessful phone calls with US officials on Friday that were cut off after a few sentences.Earlier, Chen had told Associated Press his situation was dangerous, with US officials blocked from seeing him. Speaking from his Beijing hospital — now surrounded by police — he said he had two unsuccessful phone calls with US officials on Friday that were cut off after a few sentences.
US diplomats were seen arriving at the hospital on Friday with a grocery bag and two gift bags, one containing a mobile phone. Whether they were able to deliver them was unclear. US diplomats were seen arriving at the hospital on Friday with a grocery bag and two gift bags, one containing a mobile phone.
"It's our desire to meet with him tomorrow or in the coming days," the US state department spokesman Mark Toner said on Thursday, confirming that officials had not been able to see Chen in person. "But I can't speak to whether we'll have access to him. I just don't know."
The Republican presidential challenger, Mitt Romney, described the US administration's handling of the issue as "a dark day for freedom". He joined a chorus of Republican members of Congress and Chinese human rights activists in questioning whether the US government's concern about maintaining good relations with Beijing had trumped its commitment to human rights.The Republican presidential challenger, Mitt Romney, described the US administration's handling of the issue as "a dark day for freedom". He joined a chorus of Republican members of Congress and Chinese human rights activists in questioning whether the US government's concern about maintaining good relations with Beijing had trumped its commitment to human rights.
Senior US officials have privately acknowledged mistakes in the handling of Chen's case, the New York Times reported. They said the US had failed to guarantee access to Chen at the hospital where he was being treated after leaving the US mission, and that they rushed negotiations because they wanted to resolve his future before the start of bilateral talks with China this Thursday. They had no time to obtain firm, detailed assurances on the deal from the Chinese side.Senior US officials have privately acknowledged mistakes in the handling of Chen's case, the New York Times reported. They said the US had failed to guarantee access to Chen at the hospital where he was being treated after leaving the US mission, and that they rushed negotiations because they wanted to resolve his future before the start of bilateral talks with China this Thursday. They had no time to obtain firm, detailed assurances on the deal from the Chinese side.
The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said Chen faced "no pressure of any kind" from US officials while at the embassy and pointed out that the activist had repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in China, reunite with his family and study. US officials have said they will continue to work with Chen and his wife in search of a solution.The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said Chen faced "no pressure of any kind" from US officials while at the embassy and pointed out that the activist had repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in China, reunite with his family and study. US officials have said they will continue to work with Chen and his wife in search of a solution.
Chen fled to the US embassy after escaping from his family's 19-month ordeal of harsh and illegal house arrest in eastern Shandong province.Chen fled to the US embassy after escaping from his family's 19-month ordeal of harsh and illegal house arrest in eastern Shandong province.
The self-taught legal activist was originally praised by authorities for helping disabled people defend their rights, but angered local officials by defending women who had suffered forced abortions and sterilisations, which are illegal in China.The self-taught legal activist was originally praised by authorities for helping disabled people defend their rights, but angered local officials by defending women who had suffered forced abortions and sterilisations, which are illegal in China.
Chen expressed fears for the lives of his other family members, including his mother and brothers, and was worried that people in his village were suffering retribution for helping him, in his phone call to the hearing.Chen expressed fears for the lives of his other family members, including his mother and brothers, and was worried that people in his village were suffering retribution for helping him, in his phone call to the hearing.
He Peirong, the Nanjing activist missing for days after helping to drive him from Shandong to Beijing, tweeted to say she had returned home safely but declined to comment further to media.He Peirong, the Nanjing activist missing for days after helping to drive him from Shandong to Beijing, tweeted to say she had returned home safely but declined to comment further to media.
The Chinese Human Rights Defenders network said the wife of Jiang Tianyong, a lawyer snatched outside the hospital on Thursday, said he had been released but had suffered hearing loss in both ears after being badly beaten.The Chinese Human Rights Defenders network said the wife of Jiang Tianyong, a lawyer snatched outside the hospital on Thursday, said he had been released but had suffered hearing loss in both ears after being badly beaten.