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US, China forge tentative deal on Chinese activist

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    New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith weighs in

  • Duration 5:33
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Fox News -- a dramatic appeal by the Chinese activist at the center of an international firestorm.

And now word of a possible breakthrough in the case welcome to a brand new hour of America live -- Megyn Kelly.

Chang won Chang pleading for his life during a phone call he made it to an emergency congressional hearing here in the United States.

About China.

Earlier today an American University apparently offered the man a fellowship.

And we are told the China has agreed to allow Chen and his family to apply for travel permits -- if true that is a major breakthrough.

He sparked a diplomatic standoff after a daring escape from house arrest he was protesting China's.

One child policy it's forced abortions forced sterilizations and infanticide.

They put him under house arrest for that he wound up.

Leaving house arrest and wound up at the at the US embassy in Beijing.

Well lawmakers are now raising Syria -- serious questions over whether China will actually let -- leave the country as promised.

And whether this administration handled this situation.

Properly.

Joining me now Republican congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey.

I was at congressional hearing the Chen phoned into.

He's a member of the house foreign relations committee comes -- thank you so much for being here a first of all that to -- bizarre.

Well it was a very good break -- I was trying all day to get on the phone with intent -- and and finally Bob -- -- -- did was one of our our witnesses say a dissident who spent time in prison himself.

And then we frankly just put the phone to the microphone.

And he made an impassioned plea.

To protect his family he is very wary not just that his wife in and two children.

But also about his mother his nephew and other members of the family so you know while this is eight breakthrough in the Chinese frankly.

This was a diplomatic and public relations nightmare the Chinese Government because finally.

The media including fox are focusing on the cruelty of the one chopper couple of policy in effect since 1979.

-- -- I offered my First Amendment on this combatting it back in 198428.

Years ago.

It is a horrific policy it is -- true war on women.

And the consequences to women have been horrific.

As well as little girls are missing about 100 million.

100 million underscored.

Girls because of sex selection abortions in China.

There's 500 suicides of females of women every single day in China -- -- our gen Y gen.

Great courage and his wife you want began documenting these cases.

-- how does this actions and that was the issue on which he he chose to take a stand and we talked in the exactly about how the Chinese rewarded him for that.

He sought refuge at the US embassy and then heat heat they got -- out somehow or another he now claims that he was told.

That the Chinese were threatening his family the State Department says that's not true at all -- left of his own volition we don't know what the truth is I guess today but.

The point is he left and that he was no longer able to seek asylum -- in American custody -- on American soil.

And there was a real question about it whether we had mishandled that because Hillary Clinton was on -- way over Tim Geithner was on his way over.

And there's a suggestion that they just wanted to now they want an amount they didn't want an international incident you say now that the congress needs to look into that.

All -- -- -- and and then -- fact there was clearly a hurry up offense.

In order to clear the decks if you will so that.

The beauty of that -- the the secretary of state and Geithner would be able to have this meeting.

My feeling is whenever these cases take place they've taken plays all over the world on their various administrations.

You take your time.

And it may take weeks even months what you make sure you know exactly what the individuals seeking is an asylum is it to be reintegrated into.

His country or her country.

But with protections I don't know how China could have provided protection for him there's no place in China where it is that it is safe.

Or -- -- rights activists.

If -- definition -- -- got another we've reportedly struck this deal he gets to come to America and go to an American university's Stanley gets to come to have we avoided.

International embarrassment.

Well frankly the -- we've got to keep our vigilance.

Hopefully disease said they're gonna facilitate this they the Chinese guy.

-- -- they offered it.

But hopefully other members of his family including his -- he was mom and others are will not be retaliated against.

And the woman who ferried him from -- to Beijing.

A brave young woman put him in the car and -- there are heard in -- who.

Pay wrong.

She was arrested.

We understand she's no longer arrested but being surveil by the Chinese secret police right are we that media needs to keep the focus on.

This hero.

So she does not become a victim.

-- -- Smith thank you so much for being here sir thank you very much -- well here's a little background -- watching.

He reportedly began his activism -- an early age campaigning for tax exempt it exemptions for people with disabilities.

-- later enrolled in law classes to help villagers with legal problems.

But what raised -- international profile was his campaign against forced abortions in China we are told as I mentioned that is what led.

To his arrest and in case you're wondering about the eyeglasses he is line.

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