Initiatives for China | Advancing a peaceful transition to democracy in China through truth, understanding, citizen power, & cooperative action

Posted by Initiatives for China on May 6, 2012

CEPOS awarded the Freedom Prize 2011 to Dr. Yang Jianli

The Danish Centre for Political Studies (CEPOS) awarded the Freedom Prize 2011 to Dr. Yang Jianli for his tireless efforts to promote human rights in China. Dr. Yang Jianli holds two Ph.D. degrees from Harvard and the University of California and is the founder of the pro-democracy organizations, Initiatives for China and the Foundation for China in the 21st Century. Dr. Yang Jianli was born in northern...

Posted by Initiatives for China on May 2, 2012

IFC Statement on Chen Guangcheng

In reaction to the outcome of the Chen Guangcheng case Initiatives for China issued the following statement: As the story continues to develop, we express our serious concerns over the outcome of the negotiations over Chen Guagncheng between the governments of the United States and China. While appreciating the efforts of Secretary Clinton and her top diplomatic officials, we are alarmed that Mr. Chen has...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Apr 27, 2012

Chen Guangcheng escapes from House Arrest

On April 22, Chen Guangcheng, a blind human rights lawyer, under house arrest since 2010, and after serving over 4 years in prison for exposing China’s massive campaign of forced abortions and sterilization, was rescued from the village of Donshigu in Shandong Providnce by a group of human rights activists, including Ms. He Zhenzhu and Mr. Guo Yushan. Chen Guangcheng is now hiding somewhere safe...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Apr 26, 2012

The Seventh Interethnic Interfaith Leadership Conference

The Seventh Interethnic Interfaith Leadership Conference was held in Long Beach, California in April 19th to 21st, 2012. Initiatives for China organized this event, with co-sponsorship of the National Endowment for Democracy and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Delegates who are Tibetan, Mongolian, and Uyghur leaders; activists from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau; and members of the Chinese...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Mar 13, 2012

Book Launch and Discussion

International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and Initiatives for China jointly held a press conference on March 9 to launch the release of the book Saffron Flames: The Voice of the Tibetans. The editors of the book, Drs. YANG Jianli and HAN Lianchao of Initiatives for China, called for more attention from the international community towards human rights abuses committed against Tibetans by the...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Mar 6, 2012

Human Rights Groups Launch UN Action Project

Initiatives for China, International Campaign for Tibet, the Uyghur American Association, Southern Mongolian Human Rights Center, and International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation announce the launch of their UN Action Project, a strategic initiative focused against China’s membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these organizations will conduct activities...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Feb 15, 2012

Xi Jinping Comes to Washington: A Weasel’s Courtesy Call

February 15, 2012 | Forbes.com By: Han Lianchao Washington, D.C., February 15, 2012. According to Hudson Institute visiting fellow Lianchao Han, Xi’s visit may give some in Washington high expectations for smoother U.S.-Chinese relations during his tenure; but that will be just an illusion. Chinese parents love to tell their children the story of the weasel and the hen. The story goes like this: on...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Feb 13, 2012

An Open Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President: We strongly hope that, in your talks this week with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, you will forcefully and publicly raise the issue of human rights in China. It is increasingly clear to the world that the problem of human rights in China is not merely China’s problem; instead, it is increasingly becoming the world’s problem. Most people are willing to believe that the...