Daily Lessons from Life 04 May 2012 - China says activist can apply to study abroad

"China says activist can apply to study abroad - AFP 04 May 2012

BEIJING: China said Friday that blind activist Chen Guangcheng can apply to study abroad, offering a possible resolution to a crisis that erupted when he escaped house arrest and fled to the US embassy.

The apparent concession came after Chen said he was in "great danger" and urged China's government to honour guarantees on his safety, and after he phoned US lawmakers in a dramatic appeal for help to leave the country.

Chen, a campaigning lawyer who exposed forced abortions and sterilisations under the "one-child" policy, unleashed a diplomatic furore when he sought sanctuary at the embassy where he spent six days.

China has reacted angrily to the affair, demanding a US apology for "interference" in its affairs. But in an announcement that opened the door to a face-saving resolution, the foreign ministry said Chen could apply to leave.

"If he wants to study abroad, as a Chinese citizen, he can apply through normal channels in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a statement.

"I want to meet with Secretary Clinton. I hope I can get more help from her," Chen told Representative Chris Smith, who chaired the hearing on Chen's case, as stunned witnesses and reporters looked on.

At Thursday's opening of the two-day Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing, Clinton told her Chinese hosts that they cannot deny the "aspirations" of their citizens "for dignity and the rule of law."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao -- considered a reformist in the opaque communist system -- on Friday asked Clinton to respect differences between the two countries.

But state media took an angrier line, blasting US diplomats for sheltering Chen who they condemned as a "pawn" of the United States."

An intriguing drama indeed. Worthy of Hollywood fame!!

Lessons for me are:

1. it seems to be ENDING relatively harmlessly!! The Chinese authority has found a graceful step down from this potentially highly embarrassing situation where USA 'blatantly' harboured an activist in his own country. This would have caused a lot of rancour even if it had happened in non-communist China societies with a high sense of nationalism!;

2. the CCP is at the biggest 10-year once transition of top leadership this year, plus the sudden ouster of Bo Xilai, can be vulnerable if factions close to Bo made a racket out of it and insinuate that the current CCP leadership is weak or hapless against USA when such a 'violation' of Chinese sovereign happened in Beijing, the capital of PRC, it can be very dicey! Glad that this is not happening as all seems calm and the 'study overseas' route seems perfect!;

3. personally I feel that Mr Chen will CONTRIBUTE a lot MORE if he stays in China and continue to fight for the poor and disadvantaged in his village and elsewhere in China. He is UNLIKELY to be harm given that he now has an even higher profile, internationally, than before this saga. Of course, one cannot discount the 'rash' act by some lackeys who are keen to impress their masters - in a wrong way.

For now, I am just glad that this saga is closing without too much posturing and confrontation!