White House calls on China to let dying Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo travel abroad for treatment
The Trump administration made the request as the final part of a statement delivered out of ‘concern’ for the ailing dissident and his wife
The administration of US President Donald Trump called on China to allow Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo to seek medical treatment outside of the country.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued the request as the final part of a statement delivered to reporters at a regular Washington press briefing out of “concern” for the ailing dissident and his wife, Liu Xia, who is under house arrest.
“We remain concerned that both Mr. Liu and his family are unable to communicate with the outside world and that he is not free to seek the medical treatment of his choosing,” Sanders said.
“We continue to call on the Chinese authorities to grant him full parole and to release his wife from house arrest and provide them the protections and freedoms, such as freedom of movement and access to appropriate medical care consistent with the Chinese constitution, legal system and international commitments.”
Doctors at the hospital treating 61-year-old Liu had asked the family whether the patient could be given tracheal intubation but the request was rejected, according to an announcement issued by the hospital several hours earlier.