It’s been nearly six years since Wang Youcai set foot outside a Chinese prison. A student leader during the Tiananmen Square demonstrations and founder of the China Democracy Party, Wang was arrested and his voice all but silenced behind prison walls.
In a surprise step last week, the Chinese government released Wang and sent him into exile in America. Some human rights activists call it a game of hostage politics, a PR campaign by China to gain favor from the U.S.
Others hope it’s a step in the right direction, a sign that China is embracing human rights. Whatever the motive, Wang Youcai’s life has changed, once again, precipitously. He joins us to discuss the future of people’s rights in China, and his first week of freedom.
Guests:
Wang Youcai, Chinese dissident
Merle Goldman, professor and author.