The Birdcage Archives

Tuesday 10 July 2018

Liu Xia, Leaves China & Arrives in Berlin


Hello Gentle Reader

The widow of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia, has been released from her eight year house arrest conviction, and been granted access leave from China. She has arrived in Berlin, where she was greeted by friends and lobbyists who have been pressuring the totalitarian government of China, to have her released from house arrest. China has officially stated that Liu Xia is (or was) not under house arrest, and had all freedoms of rights to move around.

Since two-thousand and ten, Liu Xia has been detained and kept under house arrest, by Chinese authorities, after her late husband, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Xiaobo, was sentenced to eleven years in prison in two-thousand and nine, after drafting the political reform manifesto Charter 08, which called for free democratic elections and reforms in China. The Chinese government tried and sentenced Xiaobo to eleven years in prison for subverting state powers and authority. Last year (July thirteenth), Liu Xiaobo, died due to liver cancer. China’s government faced global outrage due to Liu Xiaobo’s mock trial (where he was not allowed to speak during his trial or read a statement, and family and foreign diplomats were barred from observing the trial), as well as his incarnation, and eventual death due to liver cancer; where it was deemed, he suffered beyond a humane conditions, due to his incarceration.

After Liu Xiaobo had received the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xia was sentenced to house arrest, and for eight years suffered crippling depression, and other health issues related to cardiovascular complications. Again, the Chinese government remains firm that Liu Xia was never under house arrest and was free to leave at any time.

Now after eight years, thanks in large party to lobbyists and activists, as well as notable public intellectuals, such as Nobel Laureate Herta Müller and dissident Chinese writer and poet Liao Yiwu, and of course the tenacity of German diplomats and Chancellor Angela Merkel, who are being considered the strong arms who sought Liu Xia’s release and autonomy to leave China.

With regards to her release, Chinese authorities and government officials have merely stated she has left and gone abroad to seek medical assistance. No further comment was offered. Yet, many believe it was free-trade deals, and the fact as the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s death approaches, her continual and unlawful imprisonment would only gain more global coverage, and the issue once again delay or thwart diplomatic relations.

Now, however, Liu Xia is fee, and can start rebuilding a normal life in Berlin. It is stated that a living situation and assistance has been organized by Herta Müller and Liao Yiwu, but the initial and main concern is her health. Afterwards, Liu Xia can focus on rebuilding and reintegrating back into a society, after eight years of isolation. With her new found freedom, Liu Xia can once again write poetry and draw, after years of her work either being prohibited, confiscated, and destroyed.

Concerns, however, remain of Liu Xia’s brother who has been detained and tried by the Chinese authorities. The official reason for his detention is: fraud; but global authorities and watch dogs, believe it is a retaliating move against Liu Xia and the late Liu Xiaobo. There have been international calls for Liu Hui to be freed from his incarceration. There is no word as of yet on the fate of Liu Hui.

For now though Gentle Reader, the world rejoices, and for Liu Xia she can breathe a sigh of relief; all the while the Chinese government grits their teeth resentment.

It should be noted: since her incarceration, Liu Xia’s poetry has gained global appeal and circulation. It’ll be curious to see what her release will bring.


Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read

M. Mary

For Further Reading, please see the following Aritcles from The Guardian and Deutsche Welle.




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