Update: Chinese Activist Told To Leave U.S. Embassy Or His Wife Will Be Beaten To Death

U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke, left, and Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng ride from the American Embassy in Beijing to a hospital May 2, 2012. (U.S. Embassy of Beijing)

Activist Chen Guangcheng Wants To Leave China, Says Authorities Threatened To Beat Wife To Death -- CBS News

(AP) BEIJING - A blind activist said Wednesday that U.S. officials told him that Chinese authorities would have beaten his wife to death had he not left the American Embassy, where he sought sanctuary after fleeing persecution by local officials in his rural town.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, denied that the threat was issued but said Chen was told his family would be sent back home if he stayed in the embassy.

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Previous Post: Blind Chinese Activist Leaves U.S. Embassy

My Comment: Oh oh .... if this story is true, the U.S. has just "lost face" in the eyes of many Chinese.

Update: The story is true .... and the Chinese blogosphere is now in an uproar. My Chinese friends are telling me that Sec. of State Clinton is in China today .... and wanted this issue to be over before talks with Chinese officials were to begin. I doubt that this is true (I am the optimist) .... but many in China are harboring second thoughts .... and are of the belief that the U.S wanted activist Chen Guangcheng out of the embassy ASAP.

This is bad .... very bad.