When I was inside the American Embassy, I didn’t have my family, and so I didn’t understand some things. After I was able to meet them, my ideas changed.Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng • During a phone interview conducted from his hospital room. After telling U.S. Ambadassor Gary Locke that he wanted to remain in China, Guangcheng has had a change of heart, and his now reportedly requesting asylum in the U.S. “He made it very, very clear from the very, very beginning that he wanted to stay in China,” said Locke, adding, “he wanted to be part of the struggle to improve the human rights within China.” When asked why he’d had such a sudden change of heart, Chen replied, “I feel very unsafe. My rights and safety cannot be assured here.” Guangcheng told reporters that his family is living under constant surveillance by the Chinese officials, and that several have threatened Chen and his family. source (via • follow)
(via Picture of US Ambassador Gary Locke buying his own coffee burns up the internets - Shanghaiist)
To offset the last post, here’s a pic of a slightly more positive U.S.-China relation. Here’s an ambassador, BUYING HIS OWN COFFEE AT STARBUCKS! Whoa.
Bryson is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Edison International, a California-based energy company. He also has an extensive background in environmental issues, having co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served on a United Nation’s advisory group on energy and climate change.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bryson would replace outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, whom Obama recently named as his next ambassador to China.
(thanks wardashara for the tip)
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