Blind activist seeks exile in U.S.

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By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

BEIJING, CHINA (Worthy News)– Blind activist Chen Guangcheng now wants to go into exile in the United States rather than remain in China on account of fears for his safety and that of his family.

Guangcheng, who had taken refuge in the embassy six days ago, voluntarilly left the building yesterday to seek treatment in the hospital of Chaoyang District in what looks like an agreement between the U.S. and China; under the agreement, Guangcheng and his family will live outside of Shandong where he can continue his studies, but after meeting with his wife and their two sons, Chen apparently changed his mind and asked for asylum in the U.S. because his safety could not be guaranteed in China.

Guangcheng's wife, Yuan Weijing, said she was tied to a chair for days while being threatened by members of the Shandong government, so Guangcheng appealed directly to President Barack Obama to ensure the safety of his family.

However, the fate of Guangcheng and his family now rests with Beijing, which has already demanded an apology from the United States for allowing him to take refuge in its embassy; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin accused Washington of "interfering in the internal affairs of China."

During the on going US-China talks concerning economic issues and policies, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged China to respect human rights, but did not even mention Guangcheng; according to Bob Fu of China Aid Association, the U.S. has "abandoned" his longtime friend.

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