Let Chen go to US, say Chinese experts
May 10th, 2012 - 4:57 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, May 10 (IANS) Bling Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is most likely to lose his influence once he leaves for the US, a Chinese expert said in remarks published Thursday.
The US-Asia Law Institute in New York University has offered a fellowship to Chen after he announced his intention to study abroad.
While some people in the US have extended a warm welcome to Chen, observers note it is likely to mark the decline in influence of 41-year-old Chen, Global Times said.
Chen is expected to be accompanied by his wife and two children.
“It’s okay for them to migrate wherever they chose. There’s no need to lobby them to stay,” said Zhang Xixian, a professor with the Party School of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee.
However, these dissidents’ value as so-called heroes for challenging Chinese authorities depreciates once they go abroad, Liu Yang, a Beijing-based freelance writer and blogger, told the Global Times.
Many Chinese dissidents have hinted that life in the US for Chen, who has made international headlines, promises anything but a smooth transition.
“At first the news media pays a great deal of attention to you but then it wanes,” Wei Jingsheng, a dissident living in the US state of Maryland, was quoted as saying.
Wei was sentenced to 14 years in prison in China. He was granted medical parole in 1997.
Chinese dissidents abroad usually have a hard time making ends meet, which leaves them little time to care about politics.
“It’s not surprising that dissidents’ influence decreases. As long as the CPC holds the leadership, the minimal actions of dissidents and those in exile can hardly weigh much in the international community,” Zhang added.
Dissidents must also grapple with language and cultural barriers.
Yu Jie, an author of several Chinese-language books decrying State leaders, left China for the US in January after claiming his freedom of speech was restricted.
Said Liu Yang: “It’s undeniable our government has some defects and some officials are corrupt but it’s not right to amplify these problems and deem the whole leadership as evil.”
- Blind Chinese dissident hopes to study abroad - May 04, 2012
- China seeks US apology for sheltering dissident - May 02, 2012
- Blind Chinese activist fled under moonless sky - Apr 28, 2012
- Blind Chinese dissident escapes from house arrest - Apr 27, 2012
- Chinese online activists charged with subversion over calls for Jasmine revolution - Feb 25, 2011
- Blind Chinese dissident says he is danger - May 03, 2012
- Chinese women entrepreneurs find India attractive - Jun 24, 2012
- Amazon launches online bookstore in China - Sep 29, 2011
- China to rate films for the first time - Feb 01, 2012
- Chinese dissident plans empty chair protest for Nobel peace prize ceremony - Nov 21, 2010
- Armless Pianist Liu Wei Is The Winner Of 'China’s Got Talent' - Oct 12, 2010
- Chinese judokas set sight on heavyweight classes - Jul 09, 2012
- China cracks down on Liu Xiaobo's supporters ahead of Nobel peace prize ceremony - Dec 10, 2010
- Empty chair protest at Nobel peace prize ceremony - Nov 21, 2010
- 'Nuclear power safe in China' - Mar 06, 2012
Tags: asia law, central committee, chen guangcheng, chinese authorities, chinese dissidents, chinese experts, chinese language books, communist party of china, freedom of speech, global times, international headlines, liu yang, medical parole, new york university, s central, smooth transition, state leaders, state of maryland, warm welcome, wei jingsheng