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.
The announcement from First Hospital of China Medical University in the country’s northeastern city of Shenyang also said Liu is very close to death and his family had signed documents acknowledging his dire condition. His condition has been complicated by organ failure and septic shock.
Liu was arrested in December 2008 for his part in drafting pro-democracy manifesto “Charter 08”. He was sentenced to 11 years’ jail on subversion charges but was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
The dissident was represented by an empty chair at the award ceremony in Norway.
Liu was granted medical parole last month after being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer at the end of May.
Sanders’ comment was the second such request in little more than a week from the Trump administration.
Speaking to reporters for the first time after his arrival at the US Embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, US Ambassador Terry Branstad addressed questions about Liu cautiously.
“It is serious,” Branstead said. “We Americans would like to see him have the opportunity for treatment elsewhere, if that could be any of help.”
News that Liu had been granted medical parole after being diagnosed with liver cancer broke a day before Branstead arrived in Beijing to take up his post.
