California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Freed Chinese Activist Arrives

Chinese democracy activist Shen Tong arrived in the United States and vowed to return to the homeland that imprisoned and expelled him. Shen, who arrived from Beijing, said he was “very grateful to the international pressure” that led to his release from China, where he had been arrested and held since Sept. 1. He also said he hoped to return to China “with or without permission.” Shen, 24, was the first prominent participant in the 1989 Tian An Men square democracy movement to return to his homeland from exile. He arrived in August from the United States after the Chinese government assured that he would not be prosecuted. His arrest had further strained relations between the United States and China. Seventy-four U.S. senators, including vice presidential candidate Al Gore (D-Tenn.), wrote Chinese Premier Li Peng urging the release of Shen and two colleagues arrested with him. There was no word on the fate of the others, Qi Dafang and Qian Liyun, both of Beijing. Shen said Chinese officials promised they would release the two as “soon as I got on the plane.”