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Dissident Chen Sparks Row Over Taiwan Visit

Wed, 29 August 2012 8:17AM

The diplomatic row triggered by the Chinese blind dissident Chen Guangcheng has raised its head again.

Mr Chen sparked an intentional incident when he sought refuge in the US embassy in Beijing in April after escaping house arrest.

The event embarrassed the Chinese authorities and sparked a diplomatic crisis with Washington.

Now Mr Chen is in the spotlight again - this time sparking a row between China and Taiwan.

He is currently living in New York having been granted asylum by the US, but the Taiwanese opposition Democratic Progressive Party has invited him to address Taiwan’s parliament.

If that happens China would be absolutely infuriated. China considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland eventually, and by force if necessary.

The leader of Taiwan’s opposition plans to visit Mr Chen in America to deliver the invitation.

Asked by Reuters if he would accept, Mr Chen said: "I think I will.

"Whoever invites me I will accept. This is not the most important thing.

"The most important thing is I should have the freedom and right to go anywhere in the world."

Any visit to Taiwan would need government approval since Mr Chen is technically a mainland China citizen.

It would also represent a diplomatic dilemma for Taiwan's President Ma Ting-jeou who has pushed for close economic engagement with China and who has also come under fire for perceived weakness in speaking out over China’s human rights record.

Asked whether he thought a visit to Taiwan would anger China, Mr Chen said: "Governments have no right to get angry with their citizens."

Taiwan regularly plays host to people China despises, including the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama whom Beijing brands as a dangerous separatist.

Mr Chen gained an international reputation for championing human rights issues in rural areas.

Blind from an early age and self-taught about the law he advocated women's rights and the welfare of the poor.

He is best known for his campaigning against China's one-child policy and linked forced abortions.

Until he fled to the US embassy Mr Chen had been under house arrest and police were posted 24 hours-a-day in his courtyard.

Late one night when his guard went to fetch some water he managed to climb over a 10ft wall and with the help of supporters was able to wade through a river and escape the village.

His network of supporters managed to smuggle him to the capital from Dongshigu village in Shandong Province - about an eight-hour car drive.

After a few days he was escorted by the US ambassador to a Beijing hospital where he remained until his departure to the US.

In the hospital he was treated for leg injuries sustained during his escape from house arrest plus a stomach condition.

When he was in hospital his wife and two children were brought to Beijing and allowed to be with him.

Mr Chen and his family were granted US visas and left for America in May.

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