The escape of Chen Guangcheng from his home in Shandong province - where he was held illegally under house arrest for 19 months - into the American embassy in Beijing precipitated a crisis between the US and China, one that was to a large extent resolved with both governments focusing on the blind activist's requests.
Chen at first insisted he wished to remain in China with his family. What he wanted, he said, was an opportunity to attend a university since, so far, he had only been able to study law on his own.
The Americans then entered into talks with the Chinese government, which proved remarkably flexible. No doubt the looming visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to take part in high-level talks was an additional incentive.
In the end, virtually all Chen's demands were met. Beijing offered to relocate him and his family to another province, where he would be safe, able to attend law school for free and lead a normal life. He was given a choice of several universities that have blind institutions. He chose Tianjin .
While negotiated with the help of American diplomats, the agreement reached was between Chen and the Chinese government. The US was merely a facilitator.
Chen evidently felt reassured, with the American ambassador on one side and a senior State Department official on the other, each holding his hand, when he left the embassy for the Chaoyang Hospital, where he would meet his wife and children and have his injuries attended to.