Democratisation of China inevitable, blind activist Chen Guangcheng says
Blind activist Chen Guangcheng says the weight of demands from ordinary mainlanders for rights will become an irresistible force
Democratisation of the mainland was "inevitable" as the growing demands of ordinary people for rights put immense pressure on the government, blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng said yesterday.
"The sense of crisis is felt deeply by the authorities and is making them very uncomfortable," said Chen, who sparked a diplomatic crisis last year when he escaped house arrest and took refuge in the US embassy.
"The democratisation of the mainland is inevitable," he told a press conference in Taipei. "(This) could spell the end of autocracy for all of humankind."
Chen is on a two-week visit to Taiwan at the invitation of a local human rights group.
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's spokeswoman said Ma had no plan to meet Chen but welcomed his visit.
She said Ma hoped Chen could "visit as many places as possible and experience the state of civil society, democracy and human rights" in Taiwan.
Chen said it was not too important whether Ma saw him or not, but people should see it in the context of "the struggle between the free and autocratic worlds". Ma has been trying to improve ties with Beijing.
