Witnesses testified at an emergency hearing on recent developments concerning Chinese blind dissident Chen Guangcheng, who escaped from his 19 month house arrest to the U.S. Embassy in China. They also talked about his legal advocacy work in China and human rights abuses in the country. During the hearing Chen Guangcheng spoke by telephone, through an interpreter, to the hearing and requested a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
After escape from home confinement, Chen met with the U.S. ambassador and administration officials at the American Embassy in Beijing and received medical treatment. After staying at the embassy for six days, U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to let him live safely in China with his family. Hours after Chen left the U.S. Embassy for a hospital checkup, he informed the U.S. that he and his family felt threatened and wanted to go abroad.