Reuters

Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng said on Friday (May 4) that he was increasingly worried after being unable to meet U.S. Embassy officials for two days while in hospital, and repeated his desire to go to the U.S. “for a time.” The video above is in Chinese; what follows below is the English translation from the Reuters transcript.

Chen Guangcheng: “My situation is not good. I just found out that my friends were beaten up when they tried to visit me. I haven’t been able to meet with the U.S. diplomats for two days. They were not allowed to see me when they came over. The situation is very bad. My wife wanted to go shopping today, but they didn’t allow her to go, saying she must get clearance first. Then she was being followed and filmed by at least three people when she eventually went after getting permission. I really hope the Chinese government can live up to the agreement they have reached with the United States.”

Reuters reporter: “So you still want to go to the United States right?”

Chen: “Yeah, I still want to leave for a time for the time being.”