* The Duke of York invited the Chinese ambassador to Buckingham Palace last
week for private talks. A spokesman refused yesterday to disclose details of
Prince Andrew’s meeting with Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador, but its
timing will raise speculation over concern over the death. Only last May,
the Duke met Bo Xilai in China in his capacity as Britain’s special trade
envoy.
* Dramatic details emerged of blind dissident Chen Guangcheng’s daring escape
from house arrest to the US embassy in Beijing. Hu Jia, a friend of Mr Chen,
told the Sunday telegraph how the dissident managed to evade capture in a
police chase. Hours later, Mr Hu was himself detained by Chinese authorities
* China and the US are embroiled in a growing diplomatic row ahead of a visit
this week by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Chinese government
are putting pressure on Mrs Clinton to release Mr Chen from US protection
but such a move would be severely criticised in Washington. China’s ruling
elite has been shaken by both Mr Chen’s escape and the investigations into
Mr Bo and his wife, who are both accused of being at the centre of a network
of multi million pound corruption.
Related posts:
Views: 0