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Chinese dissident strains complex relationship with US

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    Blind activist's desire to leave China presses human rights issue

  • Duration 6:12
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The flying Chinese dissident at the center of a growing diplomatic tussle between the United States and China.

Has now rejected a deal to stay at home in his own country.

And the US State Department report -- does that wants to leave China reportedly out of fear for his own safety.

Keep in mind secretary of state Clinton is in China right now.

We have the latest pictures of the blind activist and here it is he spent much of the last seven years in prison or under house arrest were told.

For his outspoken views on China's repressive policies among them the one child limit the forced abortions and sterilizations.

Last week he fled to the United States embassy -- escape from house arrest.

First he reportedly said he wanted political asylum there that would have been a major embarrassment for the Chinese and a diplomatic victory for the United States.

Then all of a sudden under some really shady circumstances.

We were told he changed his mind and that he decided he did indeed want to stay in China.

Now the story's changed and the blind activists is apparently asking to leave China.

And in off camera briefing State Department spokeswoman Victoria -- and told reporters and I quote.

They as a family have had a chance.

Change of heart about whether they want to stay in China.

Mike Emanuel has the latest he is -- -- in Washington you know there are reports on this dissidents.

He has obviously been through a lot -- but -- there are reports that he's worried about his family's safety he explained particulars.

Bush -- he says he did not have -- all the information during his almost week stay at the US embassy in Beijing.

So it sounds like a threat was communicated to him when he went to the hospital here's mr.

-- explained why explaining why he's fearful.

The government officials broke into my home armed with sticks and wants to beat my family to death.

They've installed -- surveillance cameras in the garden.

On the roof and inside -- house.

And they going to put an electric fence around -- home.

Mr.

-- also described having trouble reaching loved ones on the phone which added to musings anxiety -- He's also saying that the United States has in essence abandon him if it is that true.

Well he's a very vocal -- as you mentioned have a key Chinese policy you the one child policy which allows those late term abortions even sterilization of women so.

He is a major thorn in the side of the Beijing government.

This is definitely an awkward situation between US and Chinese relations with secretary of state Hillary Clinton there she said the US believes in human rights and personal freedom.

We're told conversations continue over what to do about this matter but a State Department spokesman struggled with a key question.

I understand he's in the hospital but is he under -- I think it's a perfectly legitimate question whether he's.

Under Chinese custody and a.

Again that he's in the hospital I don't know the -- -- -- that.

Congresswoman Ileana Ross Leighton who chairs the house foreign affairs committee says it should have been obvious to US officials all along.

That there is no way to get -- and safety as long as he is within reach of the quote Chinese police state captain.

Mike Emanuel in Washington thanks as bringing in PJ Crowley now former State Department spokesman himself and now -- professor George Washington University.

In DC PJ this kind of a mess isn't it.

It has turned out to be that way.

Obviously you know this just underscores how difficult and complex the relationship to United States and China is on a good day.

And human rights have been a -- an area where there's just has been a fundamental disagreement or agreement to disagree.

The United States has stressed human rights Hillary Clinton did again today in her opening remarks of what's called the strategic and economic dialogue.

For China's perspective they say this is not your business this is it that this is an issue between our -- -- the other government and one of its citizens.

That -- what's the next move the united -- -- I kind of looked to some of these.

Middle Eastern countries and see how we've -- there regarding I don't know matters that one might consider similar.

-- -- our big lender and we gotta get along so what do you do.

Ballot -- you stand up for human rights that's exactly what the United States has doing -- is doing.

Before she arrived Hillary Clinton put down public marker that the -- case is important to us and then there were several days of intensive negotiations.

You know based on what -- was trying to do at the time -- the United States has in the past.

Been able to help bring activists.

Out of China you know to safety.

And grant them asylum.

In this case -- initially wanted to stay.

In China he want to have safety want to be relocated.

Have a chance to study law I have a chance to continue his activism to try to expand.

Chinese civil society now obviously that.

That arrangement is collapsing and -- my understanding my latest information is that US officials have been at the hospital.

Have tried to meet with -- to ascertain.

And in fact that he's had this change in this change of heart.

But -- never prevented from doing so by the Chinese official.

If it's always interesting to watch the timing on things Secretary Clinton is in China at the same time this happens when you make of that.

Well I think in this case the spotlight works to -- advantage.

In it did this nor nor you know that this will be very difficult for China to resolve.

With this level of attention my instinct is that eventually they'll give way.

And -- permission from to depart but it will be done on a Chinese timetable.

You wonder what happens whose family.

Why that's one of the good and that's part of the good news here -- they had been separated from his family that.

Yeah re unification has happened at the hospital.

And so I think once he got the -- he learned the the abuses that she had suffered while he was.

You know making its way to Beijing I think that's one of the critical factors that.

That -- in his -- not exactly on the front page of the Chinese newspapers and -- -- -- -- these are difficult cases they'll take time to resolve.

But the -- -- done this successfully in the past have if -- wants to leave China at this point.

Every indication is he does.

The other the United States who worked diligently to make that happen -- PJ Crowley on capitol Peter good to -- again thanks.

They -- all right.

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