Blind Activist Begs Hillary Clinton For Help
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has made a dramatic plea to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and American lawmakers from his hospital bed.
Mr Guangcheng phoned in to a congressional hearing to ask for help to travel to America, claiming he fears for his safety.
In bizarre scenes on Capitol Hill, a mobile phone was held up at the hearing as a friend translated from Mandarin into English.
The blind activist, who is currently in hospital in Beijing, told the hearing: "I really am fearing for my family members' lives.
"The thing I'm most concerned with now is the safety of my mother and my brother. I really want to know what's going on with them."
He appealed directly to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who is currently in the Chinese capital, asking for talks.
"I want to meet with Secretary Clinton. I hope I can get more help from her," he told Representative Chris Smith, who chaired the hearing as stunned witnesses and reporters looked on.
The US is scrambling to contain a growing diplomatic row over Mr Chen, who riled Chinese authorities by exposing forced abortions and sterilisations under the "one-child" policy.
He escaped from house arrest after 19 months in April and sought refuge at the US embassy before leaving on Wednesday after the Chinese authorities promised he and his family would be treated "humanely".
Hours later, he said he had changed his mind about staying in China - alleged that officials had threatened his wife and chldren.
He told Sky News by phone that he no longer felt he and his family were safe.
Senior US officials have reportedly admitted making mistakes in the handling of the case, according to the New York Times.
The unnamed officials apparently conceded that diplomats rushed negotiations with the Chinese because they wanted a solution before the talks being attended by Mrs Clinton.
US state department spokesman Victoria Nuland spoke to Mr Chen and his wife in separate phone conver! sations on Thursday.
"In the last 12 to 15 hours, they as a family have had a change of heart on whether they want to stay in China," she said.
"We need to consult with them further, get a better sense of what they want to do, and together consider their options."
White House spokesman Jay Carney dodged reporters' questions about the dissident, saying only that President Barack Obama would continue to make human rights a priority of a "broad" relationship with China.
US State Department officials have been adamant that Mr Chen never requested asylum and strongly denied allegations that he was pressured to leave the embassy.
The activist told lawmakers he wanted his "freedom of travel guaranteed," and that he wanted to "come to the United States for some time of rest".
His friend and supporter, Bob Fu, who translated the call, said: "Secretary Clinton, this is the moment to deliver - at least deliver what you have promised, what you have repeatedly said in the last few years... to see Chen and his family in freedom and safety."
Republican Congressman Frank Wolf told reporters that it was "very powerful that Chen asked the secretary to come get him. He wanted her to come and rescue him."
The Obama administration "has a high moral obligation to protect Chen and his family. To do anything less would be scandalous," he added.
Mr Chen said earlier on Thursday: "I want to go overseas. I want the US to help me and my family. They helped me before. I don't feel safe here. I want to leave."
At the opening of the two-day Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing, Mrs Clinton did not single out Chen, but told her Chinese hosts, including President Hu Jintao , that they cannot deny the "aspirations" of their citizens "for dignity and the rule of law."
However, in his own opening remarks, Hu called for the United States and China to respect each other's concerns and warned any worsening of relations posed "grave" risks for the world.