Chen Guangcheng has arrived in New York with his wife and two children, after China allowed him to leave the country. Thus ends the initial standoff between the US and China over the issue of human rights: the US has made possible the freedom of a noted activist, and the Chinese have resolved their immediate problem of what do do about his dissent. What remains is the question of how the matter of human rights will be pursued by both sides now. Mr. Chen’s courage is to be applauded, but it is unlikely that his voice will be heard in China now.
There was a large Occupy-like protest in Frankfurt, Germany against austerity measures. Chancellor Merkel’s position has become increasingly isolated, both internally and abroad, although it does not yet appear as if she is changing her insistence on cutting budgets. At the G-8 meeting, it didn’t appear as if there was any change in policy likely, although the eight countries gave strong statements of support for Greece.
Fighting has slowly been increasing in Eastern Congo, as rebel forces have invaded from Uganda. The cycle of violence seemed to be ebbing for a while, but those hopes appear now to be dashed. Central Africa remains the most violent place on the planet, unfortunately. And the international community remains reluctant to exert any great pressure to calm matters down.
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