Chinese Poet Bei Ling to be Released and Deported Amid International Protests

Chinese poet and editor Huang Bei Ling, also known by his literary name Bei Ling, has been arrested for two weeks and will be released on Saturday. He is a Chinese citizen with permanent-residence status in the United States and was detained while conducting a forum on his literary journal, Tendency. The police confiscated hundreds of copies of Tendency, which is published in the United States and features a mix of translations and original works by Chinese writers. The situation sparked international protests, including a letter from PEN American Center, signed by well-known literary figures such as Susan Sontag, Arthur Miller, and Seamus Heaney, condemning Bei Ling's arrest as an escalation of repressive treatment of dissident writers in China. His release defuses a potential major political embarrassment for China, which is preparing to open a celebration of Chinese culture in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• Chinese poet and editor Huang Bei Ling was arrested two weeks ago for allegedly engaging in "illegal business activity" and will be released and deported on Saturday.
• Bei Ling is a Chinese citizen with permanent-residence status in the United States and has lived there for over a decade.
• The police confiscated hundreds of copies of Bei Ling's literary journal, Tendency, which is published in the United States and features a mix of translations and original works by Chinese writers.
• The arrest and confiscation of Tendency sparked international protests, including a letter from PEN American Center condemning Bei Ling's arrest as an escalation of repressive treatment of dissident writers in China.
• The incident highlights China's efforts to rein in the growing trend of intellectual freedom and information dissemination in the country.
• China has recently attempted to discourage the import and distribution of foreign publications, including Tendency, and has shut down or warned several publishers whose books were deemed unacceptable.
• The international community, including leading Western writers and scholars, had threatened to boycott a $7 million celebration of Chinese culture in the United States if Bei Ling was not released.

Statistics:

• 2 weeks: The duration of Bei Ling's arrest.
• 30 days: The maximum amount of time Chinese police can keep suspects in criminal detention without filing formal charges.
• $7 million: The cost of China's celebration of Chinese culture in the United States.
• 9 cities: The number of cities in the United States where the Chinese culture celebration is taking place.
• Hundreds: The number of copies of Tendency confiscated by the police.
• 8 months: The time period during which China has closed down or warned several publishers whose books were deemed unacceptable.
• 7 million: The international market in which China seeks full and normal status, as mentioned by Michael Roberts, the executive director of PEN American Center.

Sources:

• "Boston-based Chinese poet to be released, deported." The New York Times, August 20, 1999.
• "China Arrests Poet and Publishes Editor." The New York Times, August 12, 1999.
• "Bei Ling, a Chinese Poet, Is Freed After Arrest in China." The New York Times, August 21, 1999.
• "PEN Center in Protests Against China's Arrest of Poet." The New York Times, August 19, 1999.