China allows Chen to stay in ‘safe’ place—US official

BEIJING—Beijing has committed to allow Chen Guangcheng to go to a “safe” place in China, a US official said Wednesday, adding the activist made no request to leave the country.

Chen, who riled Chinese authorities by exposing forced abortions and sterilizations under the “one-child” policy, fled house arrest on April 22 and sought refuge in the US embassy where he demanded assurances on his freedom.

Explaining the case in detail for the first time, a senior US official said that Chen agreed to leave the embassy on Wednesday after “a number of understandings.”

“China acknowledged that Mr. Chen will be treated humanely while he remains in China,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“When he leaves the hospital, the Chinese authorities have stated that Mr. Chen and his family will be relocated to a safe environment so that he may attend a university to pursue a course of study,” the official said.

The official said that Chen — a 40-year-old self-taught lawyer — would be given the options of several universities.

The official said that China also agreed to allow US embassy officials including doctors to see Chen while he remains in a Beijing hospital.

Chen, who has been blind from childhood, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening after he climbed over multiple walls during his escape from house arrest, the official said.