Chinese dissident Liao Yiwu ‘pressured by West’ not to release Liu Xia phone tapes
Liao says Westerners don’t understand that a low-key approach won’t work in convincing Beijing to improve its human rights record
Exiled Chinese dissident Liao Yiwu has defended his decision to release emotional recordings of phone calls with the widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo despite intense pressure from Western diplomats not to go public with the conversations.
Liao prompted controversy in May when he released a recording of phone calls in which Liu Xia – the late laureate’s wife – spoke of her despair.
The release raised international awareness of her plight but also prompted concerns that the tactic would undermine efforts to negotiate her release with the authorities.
“There was a lot of pressure from US, French and German [diplomats],” Liao said, adding that he was asked to take “full responsibility” for what might happen after the release of the audio clip.
A long-time friend of Liu Xia, Liao said behind-the-scenes diplomacy was unlikely to sway Beijing on human rights issues.
