To the Editor,
Chen Guangcheng surely makes valid criticisms of his society and government,
and should be able to speak more freely, but this is a Chinese matter among
Chinese citizens and authorities.
Harboring internal dissidents from
their own government is a leaping extension of the immunity granted to our
diplomats in China in order to create a protected space for communication
between governments. It is reciprocal, of course, with the immunity from
American law which we grant the Chinese embassy in
Washington.
Extending U.S. diplomatic
protection to Mr. Chen is unmistakably an interference in Chinese internal
affairs. There are far more important issues than Mr. Chen’s case
between our governments: first and foremost the slow but steady building
of a relationship of trust and cooperation with China’s government that
will obviate a cold war, or any form or war, as China rises at home and
internationally.
How can letting Chen Guangcheng inject
himself into US-China relations help this central agenda? We have
mis-stepped. Keeping the matter at the level of Secretary Clinton’s State
Department, we should decisively close this episode as quickly as possible, if
necessary giving an apology.
PJL
