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Chinese Activist In United States


Blind activist Chen Guangcheng shakes hands with US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, in Beijing on May 2.
Blind activist Chen Guangcheng shakes hands with US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, in Beijing on May 2.
A blind Chinese activist who sparked a tussle between Washington and Beijing has arrived in the United States.

Chen Guangcheng arrived in Newark international airport along with his wife and two children.

Shortly after touching down, Chen thanked the United States and China for its "restraint" in handling the matter.

Earlier on May 19, he had been rushed from a hospital in Beijing and put on a plane after authorities told him to prepare to leave.

After seven years of prison and house arrest, Chen escaped from his village in April and was given sanctuary inside the U.S. Embassy.


Officials struck a deal that let Chen walk free, but he had second thoughts.

That forced new negotiations that led to an agreement to send him to the U.S. to study law at New York University.

Based on AP and Reuters reporting

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