U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Supports Citizenship for Gao Zhan
(Citizenship could help scholar being held in China)

The plight of American University scholar Gao Zhan, detained in China since February, was the subject of a June 6 news conference in Washington, D.C. where the ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Immigration and Claims stressed the need to pass a bill that would grant her American citizenship.

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat of Texas) in a June 6 press release urged passage of H.R. 1385, a bill she introduced that would grant the American University scholar U.S. citizenship.

Granting citizenship to Gao Zhan is critical because "the Chinese government would be required" to give U.S. officials the opportunity to visit Gao Zhan if she were a U.S. citizen, according to the press release.

Since Gao Zhan was detained by Chinese authorities in Beijing on February 11, no one from the U.S. embassy, her family, or her team of Chinese and American attorneys has been able to see or talk with her.

"There has been no contact with Gao Zhan since she was arrested -- almost four months ago," the press release says.

"The United States Embassy in China and other United States officials as well as attorneys from both the United States and China have tried to locate the whereabouts of Gao Zhan," the press release continues, but so far "all attempts to locate Gao Zhan have failed."

Beijing has also refused to share any information about Gao Zhan, according to the press release.

Chinese authorities detained Gao Zhan, her husband, and her five-year-old son in February just as they were preparing to leave China after visiting relatives.

Her husband and son, after being kept in isolation from her and each other, were finally allowed to leave China. Gao Zhan was later charged with espionage.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee discusses the need for GAO Zhan, the American University professor being detained in China, to be granted citizenship

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m, at the House Tangle with Dong Xu, husband to Dr. GAO Zhan. GAO Zhan is a United States lawful permanent resident and American University professor who is currently being detained in China on charges of espionage.

On February 11, 2001, while visiting relatives in China, Dr. GAO Zhan and her family were arrested on espionage charges. As required by treaty, Chinese officials failed to notify the United States Embassy in China of the detention. The Chinese authorities did release GAO Zhan's husband and child -- both United States citizens. However, GAO Zhan remains in detention.

There has been no contact with GAO Zhan since she was arrested -- almost four months ago. All attempts to locate GAO Zhan have failed. The United States Embassy in China and other United States officials as well as attorneys from both the United States and China have tried to locate the whereabouts of GAO Zhan. The Chinese government has refused to share any information.

Since all requests to release GAO Zhan have been denied, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a bill, H.R.1385 which would grant citizenship to GAO Zhan. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has stated "This bill is critical because the way the Chinese government treats a lawful permanent resident differs from that of a United States citizen." The granting of citizenship to Gao Zhan is so important because the Chinese government would be required to give United States officials the opportunity to visit GAO Zhan if she was a United States citizen.

GAO Zhan has a five year old son who has not seen his mother since February. We need to pass this legislation, H.R. 1385, and bring GAO Zhan and her family back together.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)