1. Overview
Chen Guangcheng (born November 12, 1971) is a prominent Chinese civil rights activist and legal scholar who has dedicated his life to advocating for human rights in rural areas of the People's Republic of China. Blind from an early age and largely self-taught in law, Chen is widely recognized as a "barefoot lawyer" (赤脚律师chìjiǎo lǜshīChinese), a term that likens him to the "barefoot doctors" (赤脚医生chìjiǎo yīshēngChinese) of Mao Zedong's era, signifying his role as an informal legal advocate for ordinary citizens, especially the vulnerable. From a center-left perspective, Chen's activism highlights his unwavering commitment to social justice, focusing on women's rights, land rights, and the welfare of the poor and disabled.
His advocacy gained international attention in 2005 when he organized a landmark class-action lawsuit against authorities in Linyi, Shandong province, for the coercive enforcement of China's one-child policy, which included forced abortions and sterilizations. This brave challenge led to his prolonged persecution, including house arrest, formal arrest, an unfair trial, and imprisonment. After serving his sentence, he remained under illegal house arrest, facing severe harassment and abuse. In a dramatic turn of events in April 2012, Chen escaped his confinement and sought refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, leading to intense diplomatic negotiations and his eventual emigration to the United States with his family. Since arriving in the U.S., Chen has continued his human rights advocacy, pursuing academic studies and speaking out against the Chinese government's human rights record, solidifying his legacy as a courageous defender of fundamental freedoms.
2. Early life and education
Chen Guangcheng was born on November 12, 1971, the youngest of five brothers in a peasant family from Dongshigu village, Yinan County, Linyi, southern Shandong Province, located approximately 124 mile (200 km) from the city of Jinan. When he was about six months old, Chen lost his sight due to a high fever that damaged his optical nerves. Despite his family not identifying with an organized religion, Chen stated that his upbringing was shaped by a "traditional belief in virtue present in Chinese culture," which might include Buddhist elements without formal adherence. His village was impoverished, with many families living at a subsistence level, and Chen recalled being content if he simply had enough to eat during his school years.
His father, who worked as an instructor at a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) school and earned the equivalent of about 60 USD annually, played a significant role in Chen's early intellectual development. He would read literary works aloud to Chen, reportedly instilling in his son an appreciation for the values of democracy and freedom. In 1991, Chen's father gave him a copy of "The Law Protecting the Disabled," which detailed the legal rights and protections available for disabled persons in the People's Republic of China.
In 1989, at the age of 18, Chen began his formal education as a first-grade student at the Elementary School for the Blind in Linyi city. In 1994, he enrolled at the Qingdao High School for the Blind, where he studied until 1998. During this period, he developed a keen interest in law, frequently asking his brothers to read legal texts to him. In 1998, he gained admission to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Due to his family's poverty, they had to borrow 340 USD to cover tuition costs, falling short of the required 400 USD, and university authorities reportedly had to be persuaded to allow Chen to enroll. He studied in Nanjing from 1998 to 2001, specializing in acupuncture and massage, which were the only programs accessible to blind students. Chen also audited legal courses, acquiring a sufficient understanding of the law to assist his fellow villagers when they sought his help. After graduating, he returned to his home region and found employment as a masseur at the hospital in Yinan County.
Chen met his wife, Yuan Weijing, in 2001 after listening to a radio talk show where Yuan discussed her difficulties securing a job after graduating from Shandong's Chemistry Institute. Chen contacted Yuan, sharing his own story of hardship as a blind man living on just 400 CNY per year. Yuan was deeply moved by their conversation, and later that year, she traveled to Chen's village to meet him. The couple eloped in 2003. Their son, Chen Kerui, was born later that year. In 2005, they had a second child, a daughter named Chen Kesi, which was in violation of China's one-child policy. Yuan, who was working as an English teacher at the time of their marriage, left her job in 2003 to support her husband in his legal work.
3. Activism and "Barefoot Lawyer" work
Chen Guangcheng's work as a "barefoot lawyer" began in the mid-1990s, characterized by his self-taught legal knowledge and his dedication to providing legal services and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in rural China. This term, 赤脚律师chìjiǎo lǜshīChinese, draws a parallel to the "barefoot doctors" of the Mao era, signifying individuals who, despite lacking formal qualifications, provide essential services to the populace, often addressing politically sensitive issues that formal lawyers might avoid.
Chen first engaged with authorities in 1996 when he traveled to Beijing to challenge taxes that were unfairly levied on his family. As a person with disabilities, Chen was legally exempt from such taxes and fees. His complaint was successful, prompting him to begin advocating for other individuals with disabilities. With financial support from a British foundation, Chen became a prominent activist for disability rights within the China Law Society. His reputation as a disability rights advocate was further solidified when he took on the case of an elderly blind couple whose grandchildren suffered from paralysis. Despite paying regular taxes, Chen argued that the family was legally entitled to government assistance and tax exemption. The case, which drew a show of solidarity from blind citizens in surrounding counties, was successful and widely recognized.
In 1997, Chen confronted local land rights abuses. Leaders in his village began implementing a "two-field system" that granted authorities control over 60 percent of the land, which they then rented out to villagers at high costs. This system was a significant source of illicit enrichment for the local government. While studying in Nanjing the following year, Chen learned that this program was illegal and subsequently petitioned central authorities in Beijing to end the system, which angered local officials. In March 2004, more than 300 residents from his village, Dongshigu, filed a petition demanding that the village government release public accounts, which had not been disclosed for over ten years, and address the issue of illegal land requisitions. When local authorities failed to respond, villagers escalated their appeals to township, county, and municipal governments, still without resolution. Village authorities then began to publicly threaten the villagers. In November 2004, Chen acted on behalf of the villagers to file a lawsuit in the Qi'nan County Court against the local Public Security Bureau for negligence. The case was accepted, and proceedings commenced in early 2005.
In 2000, Chen returned to Dongshigu to address severe environmental pollution caused by a paper mill built in 1988. The mill had been dumping toxic wastewater into the Meng River, leading to the destruction of crops, harm to wildlife, and reports of skin and digestive problems among villagers living downstream. Chen organized residents from his hometown and 78 other villages to petition against the mill, an effort that proved successful and resulted in the suspension of the paper mill's operations. Additionally, Chen contacted the British embassy in Beijing, informing them of the situation and requesting funding for a well to provide clean water to the local population. The British government responded by contributing 15.00 K GBP towards the construction of a deep water well, irrigation systems, and water pipelines.
4. Opposition to Linyi's Family Planning Policies
In 2005, Chen Guangcheng dedicated several months to surveying residents of Shandong Province, meticulously collecting accounts of forced, late-term abortions and forced sterilization of women who were deemed to be in violation of China's one-child policy. His extensive survey primarily focused on Linyi and its surrounding rural suburbs. Chen later noted that the scope of his survey would have been significantly larger had he not been constrained by a lack of financial resources.
Despite efforts by Chinese central authorities since 1990 to curb the coercive enforcement of the one-child policy-by replacing measures like forced abortions and sterilizations with a system of financial incentives and fines-Chen discovered that coercive practices remained widespread. He documented numerous cases of abuse, including that of Feng Zhongxia, a 36-year-old woman from Maxiagou village. Feng reported that local officials detained and beat her relatives, indicating they would not be released until she surrendered and submitted to a forced abortion. She later stated that she was also subjected to forced sterilization. To further his investigation, Chen sought the assistance of prominent legal scholar Teng Biao, who conducted his own interviews in Linyi. Together, Teng and Chen released a report alleging that an estimated 130,000 residents in the city had been compelled to attend "study sessions" for refusing abortions or violating the one-child policy. Residents were reportedly held for days or weeks in these sessions and subjected to beatings.
In 2005, Chen filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of women from Linyi against the city's family planning staff. This initiative marked the first class-action lawsuit to directly challenge the implementation of the one-child policy, distinguishing it from previous individual complaints about abuses. In June of that year, Chen traveled to Beijing to formally file the complaint and to meet with foreign reporters to publicize the case, bringing it to international attention.
Although the lawsuit he filed was ultimately rejected, the case garnered significant international media coverage. In response to questions regarding Chen's allegations, a senior official with the National Population and Family Planning Commission publicly stated to The Washington Post that the practice of forced abortions and sterilizations was "definitely illegal" and indicated that the complaints were under investigation. The official attributed any such abuses to local officials who "do not understand the new demands of the Chinese leadership regarding family planning work." In September 2005, the commission announced that several Linyi officials had been detained. However, local authorities in Linyi retaliated against Chen by placing him under house arrest in September 2005. They also launched a campaign to discredit him, portraying him as an agent working for "foreign anti-China forces" and highlighting the foreign funding he had received for his advocacy on behalf of disabled people.
5. Detention, trial, and imprisonment
Following his courageous activism against the coercive family planning policies in Linyi, Chen Guangcheng faced a prolonged period of persecution by Chinese authorities, which included illegal detention, a highly criticized trial, and an unjust imprisonment.
5.1. House arrest and arrest
On September 7, 2005, while Chen was in Beijing to publicize his class-action lawsuit against the Linyi city family planning staff, he was reportedly abducted by security agents from Linyi and held for 38 hours. Recounting the incident to foreign journalists, Chen stated that authorities threatened him with criminal charges for allegedly providing state secrets or intelligence to foreign organizations. After Chen refused to negotiate with local officials to cease his activism, Linyi authorities placed him under effective house arrest starting in September 2005. When he attempted to escape in October of that year, he was beaten.
Xinhua, the official news agency of the Chinese government, claimed that on February 5, 2006, Chen instigated others "to damage and smash cars belonging to the Shuanghou Police Station and the town government" and to attack local government officials. However, Time reported that witnesses to Chen's protest disputed the government's version of events. His lawyers argued that it was highly unlikely he could have committed such crimes given his constant surveillance by police. Chen was forcibly removed from his house in March 2006 and formally detained in June 2006 by Yinan County officials.
5.2. Trial and sentencing
Chen was initially scheduled to stand trial on July 17, 2006, on charges of destruction of property and assembling a crowd to disrupt traffic. However, this trial was delayed at the request of the prosecution. According to Radio Free Asia and Chinese Human Rights Defenders, the prosecution postponed the trial because a large crowd of Chen's supporters had gathered outside the courthouse. With only a few days' notice, authorities rescheduled Chen's trial for August 18, 2006.
On the eve of his rescheduled trial, all three of his defense lawyers, including Xu Zhiyong of the Yitong Law Firm, were detained by Yinan police; two were released after questioning. Crucially, neither Chen's chosen lawyers nor his wife were permitted inside the courtroom for the trial. Authorities appointed their own public defender for Chen just before the proceedings began. The trial itself lasted a mere two hours. On August 24, 2006, Chen Guangcheng was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for "damaging property and organizing a mob to disturb traffic."
On November 30, 2006, the Yinan County court upheld Chen's sentence. Although the Linyi Intermediate Court had overturned his original conviction in December 2006, citing a lack of evidence, Chen was subsequently convicted in a second trial on identical charges and given an identical sentence by the Yinan court. His final appeal was rejected by the Linyi Intermediate Court in Shandong Province on January 12, 2007.
5.3. International reaction and support
Chen's detention and trial sparked widespread international condemnation and calls for his release. As a result of his trial, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett highlighted his case on the cover of the British government's 2006 human rights report, expressing concern over the handling of Chen's case and urging the Chinese government "to prove its commitment to building rule of law." A columnist for The Globe and Mail also criticized the verdict, stating that "Even assuming [Chen] did damage 'doors and windows,' as well as cars, and interrupt traffic for three hours, it is difficult to argue a four-year prison sentence is somehow proportionate to the offence."
Following the trial, Amnesty International declared Chen to be a prisoner of conscience, asserting that he was "jailed solely for his peaceful activities in defense of human rights." The U.S. State Department, the British Foreign Secretary, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International all issued appeals for his release. Chen also received early international recognition for his courageous advocacy; in 2006, he was named to the Time 100, Time magazine's annual list of "100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world." In 2007, while still imprisoned, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
6. Post-release house arrest and surveillance
After his release from prison in 2010, Chen Guangcheng was immediately placed under an illegal house arrest, despite Chinese law proclaiming him a free man. His home in Dongshigu Village was closely monitored by hundreds of unidentified security agents, a measure for which the local government offered no explanation. Authorities reportedly spent 60.00 M CNY (approximately 9.50 M USD) to maintain this extensive surveillance and confinement.
Chen and his wife, Yuan Weijing, made desperate attempts to communicate with the outside world through videotapes and letters. These communications described severe abuses, including beatings inflicted upon Chen and his wife, the seizure of their documents and communication devices, the cutting off of electricity to their residence, and the placement of metal sheets over their windows to prevent any visual contact with the outside. The harassment of Chen's family persisted throughout his house arrest, extending even to his six-year-old daughter, who was briefly prohibited from attending school and had her toys confiscated by guards. Chen's elderly mother was also harassed while working in the fields.
In 2011, The New York Times reported that numerous supporters and admirers attempted to breach the security cordon around Chen's home but were unsuccessful. In several instances, his supporters were physically assaulted, beaten, or robbed by security agents. In November 2011, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith attempted to visit Chen but was denied permission. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly expressed that the U.S. government was "alarmed" by Chen's continued detention and urged China "to embrace a different path." Human Rights Watch unequivocally described his house arrest as "unlawful" and called upon Chinese authorities to grant Chen his freedom.
In a widely publicized incident in December 2011, actor Christian Bale attempted to visit Chen along with a CNN crew. They were punched, shoved, and denied access by Chinese security guards. Bale later stated that he had wanted "to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is." Video footage of the incident also showed Bale and the CNN crew having stones thrown at them and being pursued in their minivan for more than 40 minutes.
7. Escape, asylum, and emigration
Chen Guangcheng's dramatic escape from house arrest in April 2012, his subsequent refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and his eventual emigration to the United States marked a pivotal moment in his life and in U.S.-China diplomatic relations.
7.1. Escape and refuge at the U.S. Embassy
On April 22, 2012, Chen Guangcheng successfully escaped from his house arrest. His fellow activist Hu Jia later revealed that Chen had been planning his escape for a considerable time and had previously attempted to dig a tunnel. In the weeks leading up to his escape, Chen deliberately gave his guards the impression that he was ill and confined to bed, ceasing to appear outside his house. This tactic allowed him several days before his absence would be discovered. Under the cover of darkness and with the assistance of his wife, Chen scaled the wall surrounding his house, breaking his foot in the process.
Upon reaching the Meng River, he found it guarded but proceeded to cross it without being stopped, later stating his belief that the guards had been asleep. Although he recalled his immediate surroundings from childhood explorations, he eventually ventured into less familiar territory. He later told his supporters that he fell more than 200 times during his arduous escape. Communicating with a network of activists via a cell phone, he reached a predetermined rendezvous point where He Peirong, an English teacher and activist, was waiting for him. A chain of human rights activists then escorted him to Beijing. In the days following the announcement of Chen's escape, several of the activists reported to be involved were detained or disappeared as Chinese authorities launched a crackdown.
Chen was subsequently given refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, though the embassy initially declined to confirm or deny reports of his presence. The embassy later stated that they had accepted Chen on humanitarian grounds and provided him with medical assistance. On April 27, Chen appeared in an internet video, expressing profound concern that authorities would carry out "insane retribution" on his family. In the video, he made three specific demands of Premier Wen Jiabao: first, that local officials who allegedly assaulted his family be prosecuted; second, that his family's safety be guaranteed; and third, that the Chinese government prosecute corruption cases under the law.
The New York Times characterized the situation as a "diplomatic quandary" for the U.S., particularly at a time when it was seeking to improve relations with China and secure its support on international crises in Iran, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. BBC News noted that Chen's escape came at "an unwelcome time for China's leaders," who were already grappling with the high-profile corruption scandal that resulted in the removal of politburo member Bo Xilai. Within twenty-four hours of Chen's escape, his name, along with phrases like "CGC" and "the blind man," were blocked by Chinese online censors in an effort to suppress internet discussion of the case. On the day Chen announced his escape, Chinese state media did not carry "a single line of news" referring to it. Despite the censorship, The New York Times reported that news of the escape "electrified China's rights activists."
7.2. Negotiations and departure for the United States
On April 29, Kurt M. Campbell, an assistant secretary of state, quietly arrived in Beijing to engage in negotiations with representatives of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Chen's situation. After several days of media speculation about his whereabouts, it was confirmed on May 2 that Chen had indeed been under U.S. diplomatic protection at the embassy.
According to embassy representatives, the agreement brokered with Chinese authorities stipulated that Chen would be freed from "soft detention," relocated, and permitted to complete his legal education at one of several law schools in China. Chinese officials also pledged to investigate "extra-legal activities" undertaken by Shandong province authorities against Chen and his family. Chen voluntarily left the embassy on May 2, was reunited with his family, and was admitted to Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital for medical treatment.
During the initial negotiations within the U.S. embassy, Chen had not requested asylum in the United States and had expressed a desire to remain in China as a free man. However, soon after leaving the embassy, Chen grew concerned that Chinese authorities would renege on their promises or take punitive actions against his family members. While he was in the hospital, Chinese security personnel barred U.S. diplomatic staff from meeting with him. Rumors emerged that Chinese officials had coerced Chen into leaving the embassy by threatening his family. U.S. negotiators stated that while Chen was in the embassy, Chinese officials had informed him that if he sought asylum in the United States, his wife and daughter would likely remain under house arrest in Shandong. However, the U.S. officials maintained that they had not heard of threats from local officials that his family would be beaten, and they had not communicated such a message to Chen. On May 3, Chen clarified to the BBC that he became aware of the threats against his family *after* leaving the embassy, which prompted him to change his mind about wishing to stay in China.
On May 2, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded that the U.S. apologize for the Chen incident, investigate its actions, and refrain from interfering in China's domestic matters in such a manner again. In an editorial on May 4, Beijing Daily described Chen as "a tool and a pawn for American politicians to denigrate China." The newspaper also accused U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke of stirring up trouble by sheltering Chen and questioned Locke's motives.
On May 4, after Chen clearly expressed his desire to leave China for the United States, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that if he wished to study abroad, he could "apply through normal channels to the relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen." On the same day, Chen was offered a visiting scholar position at New York University. On May 19, Chen, his wife, and his two children were granted U.S. visas and departed Beijing on a commercial flight for Newark, New Jersey.
7.3. Persecution of family and associates
While Chen Guangcheng was living under house arrest, several of his family members also faced harassment and confinement by authorities. His elderly mother, Wang Jinxiang, recounted being continuously followed by three security agents. In May 2012, it was reported that she remained under house arrest. Before leaving China in the spring of 2012, Chen expressed deep concern that his relatives and other activists who had helped him evade capture would be punished by Chinese officials after his departure.
On April 27, 2012, shortly after Chen escaped house arrest, plainclothes security agents forcibly entered the home of his eldest brother, Chen Guangfu. Believing that Chen Guangfu possessed information about Chen's escape, police took him to a police station for interrogation, where he was reportedly chained by his feet, slapped, and struck with a belt. Police officers then allegedly returned to the family's home and proceeded to beat Guangfu's wife and son. His son, Chen Kegui, pulled a knife and slashed at three of the officers, causing minor injuries. Chen Kegui was subsequently taken into custody and faced criminal charges for attempted murder. On May 24, it was reported that Chen Guangfu had escaped to Beijing from his guarded village to advocate on behalf of his son. In November 2012, Chen Kegui was sentenced to more than three years in prison. On November 4, 2013, Chen Guangfu announced he would fly to New York City with his mother two days later for a reunion with his brother Chen Guangcheng.
In June 2013, Jerome A. Cohen, a professor at New York University and Chen's mentor, revealed that a mobile device gifted to Chen shortly after his arrival in the U.S. contained spyware, indicating continued surveillance attempts.
8. Life and activities in the United States
After his dramatic escape and arrival in the United States, Chen Guangcheng embarked on a new chapter, settling into academic life while continuing his fervent advocacy for human rights and criticizing the Chinese government.
8.1. Initial settlement and studies
Following his arrival in the U.S., Chen, his wife, Yuan Weijing, and their two children settled in a housing complex designated for students and faculty of New York University (NYU), located in Greenwich Village, New York City. He reportedly dedicated two hours daily to studying English, in addition to engaging in regular meetings with American legal scholars to further his understanding of the U.S. legal system.
8.2. Memoir publication and criticism of the Chinese government
Chen's memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Man's Fight for Justice and Freedom in China, was published in March 2015 by Henry Holt and Company. Through his memoir and various public platforms, Chen has remained a vocal critic of the Chinese government.
On May 29, 2012, Chen published an editorial in The New York Times sharply criticizing the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the "lawless punishment inflicted on (himself) and (his) family over the past seven years." He asserted that "those who handled my case were able to openly flout the nation's laws in many ways for many years." In an April 2013 testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chen stated that Chinese authorities had failed to fulfill their promises to investigate allegations of mistreatment against him and his family. In June 2013, Chen publicly claimed that NYU was forcing him to leave his visiting scholar position at the end of the month due to pressure from the Chinese government. This claim was denied by the university, as well as by Professor Jerome A. Cohen, Chen's mentor who had arranged his placement at NYU. Despite these denials, his departure from NYU occurred within days of the university's agreement with Chinese authorities to open the NYU Shanghai campus, raising questions about potential external influence.
8.3. Academic research and lectures
In October 2013, Chen accepted an offer from the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, where he became a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Human Rights. He also took on a position as a visiting fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America, a role he continues to hold as of July 2022. Additionally, he serves as a Senior Distinguished Advisor to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.
On October 16, 2013, Chen made his first public appearance in his role as a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Witherspoon Institute. He delivered a public lecture at Princeton University titled "China and the World in the 21st Century: The Next Human Rights Revolution," co-sponsored by the Witherspoon Institute and the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. In his speech, Chen urged the American people to support the Chinese people in their struggle against the oppressive Communist government of China. He emphasized the significant impact of even small actions undertaken in defense of human rights, stating, "Every person has infinite strength. Every action has an important impact. We must believe in the value of our own actions."
8.4. Political participation and U.S. citizenship
Chen Guangcheng has also engaged in U.S. political discourse. In August 2020, he spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where he publicly endorsed then-President Donald Trump, stating, "We need to support, vote, and fight for President Trump." In 2021, Chen became a naturalized U.S. citizen. His close association with conservative Christian and anti-abortion figures since coming to the United States, including Representative Chris Smith, pastor Bob Fu, and media consultant Mark Corallo, has been a point of concern for some of his earlier supporters, such as Professor Cohen.
9. Awards and international recognition
Chen Guangcheng's unwavering dedication to human rights advocacy has garnered him significant international recognition and numerous prestigious awards, highlighting global acknowledgment of his courageous contributions.
9.1. Major awards and honors
Chen began attracting international media attention for his civil rights activism in the early 2000s. In March 2002, Newsweek magazine featured a cover story on Chen and the "barefoot lawyer" movement in China, detailing his advocacy on behalf of villagers and disabled people. His public profile further rose in 2005 when he filed a landmark class-action lawsuit challenging abuses of the one-child policy.
In 2006, Chen Guangcheng was named one of the Time 100, Time magazine's annual list of "100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world." The citation for his inclusion stated, "He may have lost his sight as a child, but Chen Guangcheng's legal vision has helped illuminate the plight of thousands of Chinese villagers."
In 2007, while still in detention, Chen received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the "Asian Nobel Prize." The award was bestowed upon him for "his irrepressible passion for justice in leading ordinary Chinese citizens to assert their legitimate rights under the law." Reportedly, Chen's wife, Yuan Weijing, attempted to attend the Magsaysay Award ceremony on her husband's behalf, but her passport was revoked, and her mobile phone was confiscated by Chinese authorities at Beijing Capital International Airport, preventing her departure.
The National Endowment for Democracy honored Chen with the 2008 Democracy Award. Chen was one of seven Chinese lawyers and civil rights activists recognized as recipients of this award. In 2012, Chen was chosen as the recipient of the Human Rights Award from the New York-based NGO Human Rights First. In explaining the selection, the organization's president, Elisa Massimino, stated, "Mr. Chen's activism has reignited an international conversation about the need to protect human rights lawyers around the world who face great danger for their courageous work." In 2013, he received the Lantos Human Rights Prize, with actor Richard Gere reading his English speech at the award ceremony. In 2014, he was honored with the Geneva Summit Courage Award.
9.2. Recognition for human rights advocacy
Chen Guangcheng's courageous and persistent work for human rights has been acknowledged globally, underscoring his significant impact on raising awareness and promoting justice for vulnerable populations in China. His advocacy has inspired international human rights organizations and governments to speak out against abuses and to support those who, like him, bravely challenge oppressive systems.
10. Influence and legacy
Chen Guangcheng's activism has had a profound impact on Chinese society, the international human rights movement, and the global community, solidifying his enduring legacy as a symbol of resistance and a champion for justice. His work, particularly his challenge to the one-child policy, exposed the brutal realities of coercive population control and brought unprecedented international scrutiny to China's human rights record. His dramatic escape and subsequent asylum in the U.S. became a high-profile diplomatic incident, forcing both the U.S. and Chinese governments to address human rights issues publicly.
Within China, Chen's "barefoot lawyer" model inspired many grassroots activists to use legal means to defend the rights of ordinary citizens, particularly the disabled, farmers facing land seizures, and victims of environmental pollution. His persistence in the face of severe persecution demonstrated the power of individual courage against an authoritarian state, galvanizing support from both within China and abroad. He has been cited as a model by other activists, including Hu Jia, who noted Chen's inspiration from figures like Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar.
Internationally, Chen's case highlighted the precarious situation of human rights defenders in China and underscored the need for global solidarity in supporting those who advocate for fundamental freedoms. His continued advocacy from the United States, through his memoir, lectures, and public appearances, ensures that the issues he fought for in China remain on the international agenda. His legacy is one of resilience, legal empowerment for the marginalized, and a persistent call for greater accountability and respect for the rule of law in China.
11. Criticism and controversies
Chen Guangcheng's activities and statements have drawn both praise and criticism, leading to several controversies. The Chinese government has consistently portrayed him in a negative light, describing him as "a tool and a pawn for American politicians to denigrate China." This narrative aims to undermine his credibility and frame his advocacy as foreign interference rather than genuine domestic concern for human rights.
One notable controversy arose in June 2013 when Chen claimed that New York University (NYU) was forcing him to leave his visiting scholar position due to pressure from the Chinese government. While NYU and his mentor, Professor Jerome A. Cohen, denied these claims, stating that his term was always intended to be for one year, the timing of his departure, coinciding with NYU's agreement to open a campus in Shanghai, fueled speculation about potential Chinese influence on academic institutions abroad.
Furthermore, Chen's increasing association with conservative Christian and anti-abortion figures in the United States, such as Representative Chris Smith, pastor Bob Fu, and media consultant Mark Corallo, has caused concern among some of his earlier supporters. These critics worry that his alignment with specific political and ideological groups might diminish his broader appeal as a universal human rights advocate and potentially compromise his credibility.
Beyond his direct actions, his family members faced severe repercussions. His nephew, Chen Kegui, was arrested and sentenced to over three years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers during the crackdown following Chen's escape. Additionally, it was revealed in June 2013 that a mobile device gifted to Chen shortly after his arrival in the U.S. contained spyware, suggesting continued attempts at surveillance even after his emigration.
12. External links
- [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/opinion/how-china-flouts-its-laws.html "How China Flouts Its Laws"], op-ed by Chen Guangcheng in The New York Times, 29 May 2012
- [http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/jun/26/chen-guangcheng-interview/ 'Pressure for Change is at the Grassroots': An Interview with Chen Guangcheng'], the New York Review of Books, 20 June 2012.
- [http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo26707 Chen Guangcheng: His Case, Cause, Family, and Those Who are Helping Him: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights], 112th Congress, Second Session, 15 May 2012.
- [http://www.freedomcollection.org/regions/asia/china/chen_guangcheng/ Democracy and Human Rights] Freedom Collection interview