The great dissident, who fled to the United States, appeals to the US-based giant who is launching its newest iPhone today. "There's a huge social responsibility" for corporations like Apple that employ thousands of people in China, Chen said. It should help end the one-child policy and stop forced abortions. His visit to Taiwan is confirmed.

New York (AsiaNews) - As stores get ready to sell the latest iPhone, the great human rights activist Chen Guangcheng appealed to Apple to use its influence to stop China's brutal one-child policy. Anyone investing in the country, he said, has "a huge social responsibility".

Chen, who is blind, fought for ten years against the Communist regime's abortion policy. Last April, he made a daring escape from house arrest finding refuge in the US Embassy in Beijing.

After a few days and a stay in hospital, he was allowed to travel to New York to study on a scholarship.

For the activist, "There's a huge social responsibility" for corporations like Apple that employ thousands of people in China. The latter "should take a very active role" to convince the regime to "end the one-child policy and stop forced abortions."

The dissident asked to meet top Apple officials, but the company has not yet answered.

Chen said however that he would travel to Taiwan next year. Governed by a democratic form of government, the island is deemed a rebel province by Beijing and has been de facto independent since 1949.

Chen's good friend, lawyer Jiang Tianyong, said he welcomed the news that Chen would visit Taiwan next year, saying China has much to learn from the island in terms of lessons in democracy and rule of law. "Taiwan may not be exactly the path China will follow in the future but it has areas that we especially could learn from," Jiang explained.

 

• china
• forced
• abortions
• apple