China: Chen Guangcheng Can Apply to Study in the U.S.

Now let's see if the application is approved...

Chinese officials have allowed forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng to apply to leave the country and study abroad at a university in the United States — in what is the first sign of good news that Chen may escape the persecution he is facing there.

China’s Foreign Ministry posted a short blurb on its web site earlier Friday saying Chen could apply to join the more than 300,000 Chinese people who go abroad to study at foreign colleges and universities. Chen is a self-taught attorney and has said he would like to receive formal education to supplement that.

In the original deal the United States struck with China, before Chen learned his family and his own life may be in grave danger should he stay in China and before he requested diplomatic help from the United States to leave the country, China would have agreed to allow Chen to study at one of its universities rather than going back to his hometown where he was under house arrest by family planning officials.

The Chinese spokesman, Liu Weimin, said Chen could submit an application to study abroad and “can apply through normal channels to the relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen.”

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