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CNN Live Sunday

Xue Donghua And His Diplomatic Battle For His Wife

Aired April 15, 2001 - 17:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Now that 24 crew members are back in the United States, there are increasing calls for the release of others being held in China. In particular, several intellectuals with ties to the United States. CNN's Patty Davis has that story from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A big day as newly baptized Andrew Xue searches for Easter eggs but the 5-year-old is celebrating Easter without his mother. American University researcher Gao Zhan is being held in China on espionage charges.

XUE DONGHUA, WIFE IS DETAINED IN CHINA: He missing mom every day and he asking me questions, why mom's picture on TV every day, and why some pictures on the paper.

DAVIS: Gao's family says she is innocent, a sociologist who has written about women's issues in China and Taiwan. Her two-month detention has drawn international attention.

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN (R), VIRGINIA: This pattern of detaining and care rates without any due process whatsoever, people such as Gao Zhan, the mother of a 5-year-old son, as well as other academics is hardly helpful towards improved relations with the U.S. or the rest of the world.

DAVIS: Three other scholars are also being held in China. Detained last year: Xu Zerong, a Chinese citizen and Oxford-educated historian based in Hong Kong; Li Shaomin, a U.S. citizen and business professor in Hong Kong detained in February; Tan Guangguang, a U.S. permanent resident and former visiting U.S. scholar was picked up in December.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This could be one way indirectly I think of sending a message to the new administration that China will stand up for its interests; it says it will support and protect human rights, but it will do so in its own way.

DAVIS: The Bush administration says it repeatedly raises with China the issue of the detained scholars. Xue says he is still waiting for a face-to-face meeting with senior administration officials.

Sworn in as U.S. citizen last month, Xue continues his public campaign to win his wife's release.

XUE: Please don't let her to be a victim of the U.S.-China relations and please don't put her on the bargain table.

DAVIS: Now that the crew of the U.S. EP-3 plane is back home, Xue says he is optimistic that diplomats can win Gao's release as well.

Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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