Activist Chen Guangcheng Flees China to U.S.

Leading Chinese media Epoch Times (Chinese version) has reported that blind activist and lawyer Chen Guangcheng has fled China on a flight to Washington, DC.  Reported by Chinese microblogs, but not yet confirmed by government sources in the U.S. or China, this would be the latest bombshell development in the changes shaking the Chinese Communist party to the core and threatening the succession process of the new premier.

Chen Guangcheng is highly regarded in human rights circles, as well as by many ordinary Chinese, who are looking for answers to the endemic corruption in China.  He was held under house arrest for 18 months and escaped with the assistence of his supporters, then escaped to the U.S. embassy in Beijing yesterday.  After he escaped house arrest, he released this dramatic video, which calls for Premier Wen Jiabao to investigate corruption:

According to Chinese microblog sources, both the U.S. and Chinese governments agreed to have Chen Guangcheng leave China on the 27th on the United Airlines flight 898 at 6:30PM.  He arrived at Washington Dulles at 8:02PM Washington, DC time.  His arrival has not been officially announced yet by either government.