Chen Guangcheng case: Republican senators urge asylum despite deal [View all]
Source: Washington Post
Two Republican senators plan to introduce a congressional resolution urging the Obama administration to grant blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng political asylum despite a tentative deal already struck on Friday to bring him to the United States.
An early draft of the resolution by Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) included criticism of the Obama administration’s handling of of the diplomatic crisis, support for Chen’s work in China against forced abortions and language chastizing China.
The proposal suggests Republicans see the issue as a potentially useful election year line of attack on Obama’s record on human rights and relations with China.
Some Republicans, including Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and human rights advocates have accused the Obama administration of mismanaging Chen’s case. The critics say the administration has been too trusting of the Chinese government, given its history of mistreating dissidents.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/chen-guangcheng-case-republican-senators-urge-asylum-despite-deal/2012/05/05/gIQAqzIH4T_story.html
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