DATE=1/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / U-S SCHOLAR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258540
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S lawmakers say a Chinese-born scholar may
soon be on his way back to his home in the United
States after months of detention in China on charges
of smuggling classified documents. As V-O-A's David
Swan reports, the lawmakers said Chinese officials
told them of the plan to release scholar Song Yongyi.
TEXT: Mr. Song had been held since August, when both
he and his wife were taken into custody. At the time,
he was researching China's Cultural Revolution of the
1960s and 70s. China accused Mr. Song of dealing in
state secrets. But officials of Dickinson College in
(the northeast U-S state of) Pennsylvania, where he
works, said he only collected previously published
material.
Mrs. Song was allowed to return to the United States
in November. Now, Pennsylvania Republican Senator
Arlen Specter, who pressed for Mr. Song's release,
says he too will be freed.
/// Specter Act ///
The Chinese ambassador to the United States told
me this (Friday) morning just about an hour ago
that Yongyi Song, the librarian from Dickinson
College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania has been
released from detention by the People's Republic
of China. And that is good news indeed.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Song was born in China but had planned to become a
U-S citizen in September. His case drew protests from
lawmakers, human rights activists and other librarians
and scholars. Senator Specter believes Beijing was
sensitive to the pressure because it did not wish to
jeopardize its bid to join the World Trade
Organization.
/// Specter Act ///
And I think there is a realization that China
will have to be respectful of human rights if
they are to enter the community of nations as
full-fledged partners.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Song was expected to leave China on a flight bound
for (the U-S city of) Detroit and return from there to
Pennsylvania. (Signed)
NEB/DS/ENE/JP
28-Jan-2000 14:30 PM EDT (28-Jan-2000 1930 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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