China warns blind dissident Chen Guangcheng ahead of Taiwan trip

China warned blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng on Thursday to mind his language ahead of his trip next month to political rival Taiwan, on a visit which could infuriate Beijing if, as expected, Chen uses it to criticise Chinese rights abuses.

China has been largely silent on the issue of Chen since he fled from house arrest and took refuge in the US embassy in Beijing last year, straining Sino-US relations, before he was allowed to leave for New York for study.

Since then, Chen has taken his campaign to improve human rights in China to senior US politicians and to Europe.

In late June, Chen travels to Taiwan.

“As a Chinese citizen, on his activities overseas he should know how to protect the country’s dignity and fulfil his responsibilities as a citizen,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said when asked about the Taiwan visit.

Hong did not elaborate.