Wei's News Conference
11-21-97, NY City Library

From China News Digest

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3. A Translation of Text of WEI Jingsheng's Speech and Q&A Session
     in the News Conference Held Friday in New York Public Library ..... 190
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Translated from Chinese by: Jim Yu; Proofread by: Bo Xiong
Source: Hong Kong Apple Daily, Xing Dao Daily, San Francisco Chinese Radio, 
        11/21&22/97

I am thankful for the great effort by the nations and governments in the
world to free China's political prisoners, and I thank the friends in the
media to give me this opportunity to express my views.

For this opportunity, I have waited for decades, and the Chinese people
have waited for tens of centuries. There are still thousands of political
prisoners in Communist Party's prisons who are suffering and struggling for 
this most sacred right of mankind. As fellow human beings, our conscience does
not allow us to forget them. Not for a moment.

Democracy and freedom are one of the greatest goals of mankind, and they
are the most sacred right of mankind. Thanks to countless ancestors'
continuous struggle and sacrifice, it has become a reality in Europe,
America, and many other places in the world. But people shall not be
satisfied, especially people who have been enjoying the rights of freedom
and democracy. The happiness that has come to you is not a
justification for forgetting that there are many more people who are
struggling under autocracy, slavery and poverty, and who are suffering
from unimaginable repression, exploitation and slaughter. Dictators' hunger
and greed for their ruling power will never cease. The freedom and
prosperity you have gained are not invulnerable. If you tolerate rob-
beries at the next door, your own door is no longer safe. Only when
people unite to defeat the robbers, everyone's doors are able to stay
safe and free.

Now, in this great library, I would like to share and enjoy the sacred
right and freedom of speech with the friends from media. Let's discuss
what we can do for more people, or even the entire mankind, to enjoy
this holy right.

Please now ask your questions, my friends. (long applause)

Q: Why do you want to visit Taiwan? How much do you understand Taiwan
   since you have been mostly in prison for past 18 years?

A: I don't have such a thought or plan [to visit Taiwan] now. But Taiwan 
   is also a part of China, and I think I will very likely visit there.

Q: Mr. Wei, how do you plan to work for democracy while in exile in this
   country [US]? And do you have any plans to go back to China?

A: I do plan to return to China. In fact, I never wanted to leave
   China in the first place. The Chinese government insisted that if
   I wanted to receive medical treatment, I would have to go to the US
   and could not stay in China. That's how I accepted such an arrange-
   ment for my medical parole.

Q: Do you think your release is part of a political deal, an irony
   to human rights, or the result of a profound change in human rights
   movement?

A: I am still unsure of what was really behind my release. I have just
   gone out, and there are lots of information unknown to me. Nonetheless,
   it is a victory of the struggle for human rights and for democracy,
   however small the victory is.

Q: Mr. Wei, do you want to be the President of China?  (laughters)
   Do you think there is any chance for you in the future?

A: Basically I am not interested in this kind of topics. (laughters)

Q: You've been saying since you were arrested in 1979 that you love
   China. Right now how do you feel about China?

A: I've always loved my fatherland. It's the same whether I am in China
   or outside China.

Q: We [reporter from a Japanese newspaper] last met in 1994, and you
   told me that you planned to visit Japan because in Japan people
   understand Chinese characters, which would be convenient for
   promoting China's democracy. How do you feel about going to Japan
   now? And how do you feel about Japan's support for you?

A: In the past I did not have a good understanding of either Japan or
   America. At that time I thought the gap between the American culture
   and the Chinese culture was probably quite large. But since coming to
   the US, I have felt that the gap is not as large as I imagined. But
   exactly how large the gap is with the Japanese culture, I cannot be
   certain either.

Q: Now you've been driven out of China, are you concerned about your
   family that they will be harassed or repressed in any way?

A: Yes, I am very concerned about their safety, and they have been
   repressed deeply. But I am not just concerned about my own family.
   In China, there are thousands of people under repression. I am
   equally concerned about their safety. (applause)

Q: You have been critical to China's policy on Tibet, and you wrote
   letters to DENG Xiaoping to voice your strong criticism. What do
   you think is the best way to resolve the issues of Tibet?

A: You look like a Tibetan. (laughters) Tibet is a complicated issue
   for China. I am against the Communist Party's policy to suppress or
   even eliminate Tibetan culture. As for how to resolve the issue,
   it would be better that Han people and Tibetan people could sit down
   and discuss it together. It cannot be done by only one side.

Q: You spent nearly 18 years in prison, and your best years were passed
   behind the bars. I wonder how you feel and what you have learned the
   most from this experience?

A: I have learned a lot, but what I feel most strongly is, that there is 
   nothing a human being cannot overcome. As long as you can overcome 
   yourself, you can overcome any difficulties and obstacles. (applause)

Q: How do you describe the cruel treatment you received in prison in
   recent years?

A: These years of prisoned life cannot be described in a sentence or
   two. I plan to write it down soon. When it's published, you will have
   a good look.

Q: The PRC Minister of Justice XIAO Yang said in New York a few days ago
   that once your health is recovered and you want to go back to China,
   you will need to serve the rest of your sentence in jail. With
   such a [non-]option, will you still choose to return to China?

A: If I am allowed to return, I would go back under any circumstances.
   Of course, nobody likes to live in prison.

Q: Another famous democratic fighter WANG Xizhe wrote recently to express
   his displeasure over some media's calling you the "Father of China's
   Democracy." What do you think?

A: I have no knowledge of WANG Xizhe's article. When people call me this
   way, it shows that they like me. I am, however, embarrassed to be called
   this way because I don't think I've done much for China. I have not done
   nearly enough. (applause)

Q: You've said that you love China. Then, do you love the China that is
   controlled by the Communist Party? As a party member yourself, do you
   still hold any hope for the party's reform, or do you want to try
   your best to end the one-party autocracy in the near future? Also, if
   you have the chance, what would you like to say to President JIANG Zemin
   in public?

A: First of all, a small mistake needs to be corrected. I'm not a member
   of the Communist Party, nor have I ever been one. Secondly, a concept
   needs to be clarified: To love China is not the same as to love the
   Party. (applause) The Communist Party requires all Chinese to love
   the Party, and put it as patriotism. But to my understanding, it's a
   different matter from patriotism. As for speaking to JIANG Zemin, I
   have always wanted to talk to them, but they have refused to talk to
   anyone unless you are as influential as the US who can put pressure
   on them. Then they would be forced to talk. I do not have such an
   influence right now. (applause)

Q: When you meet with President Clinton, what are you going to say to him?

A: I will first thank the American people for their concern for Chinese
   people's human rights and democracy. Of course there'll be many other
   topics. Please wait after we've talked. (laughters)

Q: Do you have any comment on where the impetus of change will come in
   China? Traditionally the Chinese people have been rather passive in
   politics, and the few uprisings or movements have come from the youth.
   [Added the interpreter] Where do you think in the future the impetus
   of change will come from in China?

A: First I have to correct what you said. The impetus of the movements
   in Chinese history, in most cases, seem to have come from people's
   struggle against oppression. Even today, it is the Chinese people who 
   give impetus to China's change including the ongoing reform since the 
   '80s and the '90s.

Q: If you are forced in exile for a long period, will you continue to
   struggle for the democracy movement? And what will such a future
   look like?

A: I mainly want to participate in various activities to promote demo-
   cracy, including what people hope me to do and what I should do. As
   for whether or not I will be directing these activities, I have not
   thought about it.

   The future of China's democracy movement is definitely bright. Please
   do not only pay attention to the current low tide. Every movement has
   its low tide and high tide. When it's in the low tide, it means it
   will begin to turn to high tide soon.

   [Interruptingly] There is one thing I have to apologize. I don't feel
   very well now and my head is dizzy. I hope you pardon me, and we will
   talk again the next time. (long applause) 

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