WORLD : Exile Seen for Chinese Dissident
A China-watching magazine reported today that fugitive dissident Fang Lizhi will be allowed to leave the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and go into exile in Australia or another country this month.
The Chinese-language Pai Shing Semimonthly reported that the United States and China reached an “understanding” on resolving the impasse over Fang when U.S. National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft visited Beijing in December.
The magazine, a leading publication in this British colony reporting on Chinese affairs, did not reveal any source for the article. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese government.
White House officials reacted to the report with skepticism. “He’s still in the embassy. There have been no new developments,” White House spokesman Roman Popadiuk said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
