Blind Chinese Activist Is Center Of China-U.S. Diplomatic Crisis

Chen Guangcheng, a blind self-trained lawyer, evaded guards stationed at his home, where he was under house arrest. With the aid of fellow activists, who have since been arrested or disappeared, he traveled nearly 300 miles to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Chen was later released back to China for medical attention after he and his family were promised protection. However, in a series of interviews with reporters since his release, Chen has stated that he and his family have been threatened by the Chinese government. They now wish to seek asylum in the U.S.

Chen's escape coincides with important diplomatic talks between the U.S. and China that will affect their economic and political relationship. When Secretary of State Hilary Clinton lands in China, the State Department will be forced to make some tough decisions. Will they stand for Chen, or will they stand by China?  

Who Is Chen Guangcheng?

	Due to a severe fever, Chen Guangcheng lost his sight at an early age. He couldn't read until 1994 when he was enrolled in Qingdao High School for the Blind. He graduated in 1998.

Chen became a popular figure and activist when he protested against forced abortions, which are technically illegal under Chinese law. The abortions were performed as part of China's one child policy, which restricts married Chinese couples to a single child in an attempt to control China’s booming population. He served four years in prison on minor charges, and was released to house arrest where he and his family were constantly monitored and allegedly beaten.

After his escape, Chen released a video petition asking Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and other Communist leaders to take a stand regarding the government’s violations of human rights.

What Does This Mean For China?

	After news emerged of Chen's escape, China's most popular blog site, Sina Weibo, and other services banned searches for Chen's name in Chinese characters and English letters.

In order to control the embarrassment and tension caused by Chen’s escape, the Chinese government has censored words related to the incident on the Internet.  When you type Chen’s name, the hospital where he was held, “blind man”, “American embassy”, "Shawshank Redemption" or “Great Escape” into the Chinese Facebook-like micro-blogging service, Weibo, it says that such terms are blocked.

The scandal comes at a sensitive time for China.  In the past few months, enforcing the rule of law has become difficult in the wake of political scandals that have affected many powerful leaders in the Chinese government.

Right now, the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party have yet to reach a consensus on how to best handle Chen’s case. Will they clamp down on those speaking out and increase control, or will they embrace this international crisis as an opening for reform?

Will China change its tune on human rights?

	Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with other senior U.S. officials, will be in Beijing for a two-day strategic and economic summit

The US government’s perspective on human rights in China is complex. While the U.S. has a responsibility to uphold high human rights standards, economic and political alliances with China are invaluable in today’s global economy.  Historically, the U.S. government has argued that exposing China to Western capitalism and ideas is beneficial for the Chinese people, and could be a gateway to a more democratic China.  Thus far, President Obama has not said anything about Chen’s predicament.

At the same time, China has stated that it aims to be an economic superpower and graduate from making cheap junk and pouring concrete to an economy of consumption, services, technology. 

“We now talk of a new economy, or information revolution. With this kind of media censorship, you could not have this kind of openness,” explained Cheng Li of the Brookings Institution on NPR Marketplace.