(Reuters) – The University of Washington has offered a fellowship to blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who has said that he wants to study in the United States following his dramatic escape from house arrest.

The move follows a similar invitation extended by New York University as Chen waits for approval to travel to the United States under a deal struck between the Obama administration and Beijing.

The 40-year-old activist took refuge in the U.S. embassy for six days after fleeing house arrest in Shandong, prompting fears that a diplomatic standoff over his fate could sour relations between the United States and China.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei, May 3 (CNA) Two Chinese who had access to blind activist Chen Guangcheng said Thursday that after learning what was happening around him, Chen has changed his mind and said he and his family would like to leave China — a request that has been made to the United States.    [FULL  STORY]

(Reuters) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left on Monday on a high-stakes trip to Beijing, where a blind dissident is reportedly holed up in the U.S. embassy in a drama threatening to overshadow top-level meetings between the two governments.

Dissident Chen Guangcheng, according to one of his helpers, will demand to stay in China and press on with his campaign for reform, adding to tension between Beijing and Washington that poses risks for both governments as well as to relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

The Epoch Times
April 26, 2012
By Ariel Tian

Imagine that you are a dictatorship. You have dissidents in exile, overseas, who criticize you. It would be nice if they supported you instead. Why not send a few special representatives to buy them off?

That is what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been doing for years, according to Tang Baiqiao, a prominent democracy activist and writer.

Tang says that over the years he has become the object of attention of a number of people, including relatives, acquaintances, and classmates, who suddenly want to become very good friends, and find out, in detail, what it is he does all day. Their roles have been government officials, professors, visiting scholars, or overseas students.    [FULL  STORY]

This picture taken on March 28, 2005 shows blind activist Chen Guangcheng outside a house in Dondshigu village, in north-east China's Shandong province. He confirmed his dramatic escape from house arrest and appealed to Premier Wen Jiabao to keep his family safe, in a video posted online on Friday. -- PHOTO: AFP

BEIJING (AFP) – Chen Guangcheng, a blind Chinese lawyer, confirmed his dramatic escape from house arrest and appealed to Premier Wen Jiabao to keep his family safe, in a video posted online on Friday.

In the video, Mr Chen – speaking with obvious emotion in a dark room in an undisclosed location – also revealed the names of several government officials he claims had beaten him and his wife, and made his son’s life a misery.    [FULL  STORY]

FUZHOU: An explosion that toppled a residential building and killed nine in east China’s Fujian Province Sunday morning was caused by explosives illegally stored in a garage, local authorities said.

Police have detained the owner of the garage, which belongs to a transport company, and the investigation is under way, the city government said in a press release Sunday night, Xinhua reported.A blast ripped through the garage in Subang village in the Longyan City at 10.35 a.m. Nine people were confirmed

(Reuters) – A rising star is ejected from China’s Politburo and faces trial for violations of Communist Party discipline. His wife is in custody, suspected of murdering a British national.

So much for an orderly transition of power.

Just weeks ago, the pending retirement of Chinese president and Communist Party Chief Hu Jintao to the younger generation headed by anointed leader to be Xi Jinping had appeared headed for a quiet repeat of 2002.    [FULL  STORY]

Following the recent Hong Kong election protests, Chinese writer Liang Muxian, who traveled from her home in Canada to Hong Kong for the release of her new book, talked with The Epoch Times about her decision to break away from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).    [FULL  STORY]

A new free school meal program in Guizhou Province caused dozens of elementary school students to suffer from food poisoning on March 29th. (Internet image)

A new free school meal program in Guizhou Province caused dozens of elementary school students to suffer from food poisoning, according to reports.

Soon after the program was rolled out, three hospitals in the rural area were packed with students who were being given infusions after ingesting the milk. Officials said the preliminary investigation indicated the culprit is a milk drink produced by the Meng Niu Group which was part of the “nutritious breakfast”.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Fang Lizhi, a liberal scholar who inspired the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, died in Tucson, Arizona Friday. He was 76.

Wang Dan, a Chinese democracy leader who lives in Taiwan, said in a Facebook post he had confirmed with Fang’s wife Li Shuxian by phone that Fang had died of a sudden illness.    [FULL  STORY]