Misplaced Pages

#613386

95-443: Linyi City, referred to as Yi, the ancient name of Langya, Yizhou. It is located in the transition zone between Shandong hilly Yimeng Mountain area and Yishu River alluvial plain, and the terrain is high in the north and low in the south. The three major mountain ranges of Yishan, Mengshan and Nishan are distributed in the north, with hills in the center and plains in the south. The Yi River, Shu River and Surabaya River all originate from

190-471: A Chinese Communist Party (CCP) school, earning the equivalent of about $ 60 annually. When Chen was a child, his father would read literary works aloud to him, and reportedly helped impart to his son an appreciation of the values of democracy and freedom. In 1991, Chen's father gave him a copy of "The Law Protecting the Disabled", which elaborated on the legal rights and protections in place for disabled persons in

285-538: A campaign to undermine his reputation; the Linyi officials portrayed him as working for "foreign anti-China forces", pointing out that he had received foreign funding for his advocacy on behalf of disabled people. On September 7, 2005 while Chen was in Beijing to publicize his class action lawsuit against the Linyi city family planning staff, he was reportedly abducted by security agents from Linyi and held for 38 hours. Recounting

380-809: A decrease of 6.29% in the share of the population in the youngest age group, and increases of 3.36% and 2.93% for the 15-59 and 60+ shares, respectively. 91.51% of the population was of the Han Chinese nationality, and 8.49% was of other ethnic groups . The Han population increased by 5.74%, and the population of other groups increased by a combined 6.92%. The census found that, in Mainland China, 119,636,790 people had completed higher education, 187,985,979 had completed only senior secondary education, 519,656,445 had completed only junior secondary education, 358,764,003 had completed only primary education, and 54,656,573 were illiterate. Since 2000, out of every 100,000 people,

475-421: A different city from their registration. According to the 2010 census, males account for 51.27% of China's 1.34 billion people, while females made up 48.73% of the total. The sex ratio (the number of males for each female in a population) at birth was 118.06 boys to every 100 girls (54.14%) in 2010. 16.60% of the population was aged 0–14, 70.14% was aged 15–59, and 13.26% were aged 60 or over. This represented

570-440: A different path". Human Rights Watch described his house arrest as "unlawful" and called on authorities to give Chen his freedom. In December 2011 actor Christian Bale attempted to visit Chen along with a CNN crew, but was punched, shoved, and denied access by Chinese security guards. Bale later stated that he had wanted "to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is." Video footage also showed Bale and

665-425: A forced abortion. She said she was later subjected to forced sterilization. Chen also solicited the help of prominent legal scholar Teng Biao , who conducted his own interviews in Linyi. Teng and Chen later released a report claiming that an estimated 130,000 residents in the city had been forced into 'study sessions' for refusing abortions or violating the one-child policy; residents would be held for days or weeks in

760-437: A high-profile corruption scandal that resulted in the removal of politburo member Bo Xilai . Within twenty-four hours, Chen's name as well as the phrases "CGC" and "the blind man" had been blocked by Chinese online censors in an effort to quell Internet discussion of the case. On the day Chen announced his escape, Chinese state media did not carry "a single line of news" referring to it. The New York Times wrote that news of

855-442: A job as a masseur in the hospital of Yinan County . Chen met his wife, Yuan Weijing, in 2001, after listening to a radio talk show. Yuan had called into the show to discuss her difficulties in landing a job after graduating from the foreign department of Shandong's Chemistry Institute. Chen, who listened to the program, later contacted Yuan and relayed his own story of hardship as a blind man living on just 400 Yuan per year. Yuan

950-644: A lack of financial resources. Though Chinese central authorities have sought to curb the coercive enforcement of the one-child policy since 1990 by replacing measures such as forced abortions and sterilizations with a system of financial incentives and fines, Chen found that coercive practices remained widespread, and he documented numerous cases of abuse. One of the women he interviewed in Maxiagou village, 36-year-old Feng Zhongxia , said that local officials detained and beat her relatives, and indicated they would not be released until she turned herself in and submitted to

1045-508: A landmark class-action lawsuit against authorities in Linyi , Shandong province , for the excessive enforcement of the one-child policy . As a result of this lawsuit, Chen was placed under house arrest from September 2005 to March 2006, with a formal arrest in June 2006. On August 24, 2006 Chen was sentenced to four years and three months for "damaging property and organising a mob to disturb traffic." He

SECTION 10

#1732855557614

1140-633: A large impact, because "Every person has infinite strength. Every action has an important impact. We must believe in the value of our own actions". In August 2020 Chen spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention . During his speech, Chen stated "We need to support, vote, and fight for President Trump." In 2021 Chen naturalized as a US citizen. In 2015 Henry Holt and Company published Chen's memoirs The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Man's Fight for Justice and Freedom in China . Chen began attracting international media attention for his civil rights activism in

1235-502: A message to Chen. On May 3, Chen clarified to the BBC that he had become aware of the threats against his family after leaving the embassy, and at that point changed his mind about wishing to stay in China. On May 2, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded that the U.S. apologize for the Chen incident, investigate its acts and never interfere in China's domestic matters in such

1330-475: A network of activists via a cell phone, he reached a pre-determined rendezvous point where He Peirong , an English teacher and activist, was waiting for him. A chain of human rights activists then escorted him to Beijing. Several of the activists reported to be involved were detained or disappeared in the days following the announcement of Chen's escape. Chen was given refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, though

1425-514: A number of supporters and admirers had attempted to penetrate the security monitoring Chen's home, but were unsuccessful. In some instances, his supporters were pummeled, beaten, or robbed by security agents. U.S. congressman Chris Smith attempted to visit Chen in November 2011, but was not granted permission. U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton described the U.S. government as "alarmed" by Chen's continued detention and called on China "to embrace

1520-406: A police station for interrogation, and reportedly chained his feet, slapped him, and struck him with a belt. Police officers then allegedly returned to the family's home and proceeded to beat Guangfu's wife and son. His son, Chen Kegui, pulled a knife and slashed at three of the officers, causing minor injuries. He was taken into custody and faces criminal charges for attempted murder. On May 24, it

1615-576: A population of 58,300 people, accounting for 0.55% of the resident population, with the Hui ethnic group being the most numerous, with 46,800 people, accounting for 0.44% of the resident population, and other ethnic minorities, with 11,500 people, accounting for 0.11% of the resident population. As of 2022, there are 5 more well-known hospitals in Linyi. Linyi's focal point is the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang). It

1710-461: A position at the Catholic University of America . Chen is the youngest of five brothers of a peasant family from the village of Dongshigu , Yinan County , Linyi , southern Shandong Province , approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the city of Jinan . When Chen was about six months old, he lost his sight due to a fever that destroyed his optical nerves. In an interview for

1805-601: A small entrance fee tourists can enjoy a pleasant walk and try Chinese calligraphy. Near the center of Linyi city is a museum which houses some original bamboo strips from the Warring States period . One of the pocket parks in Lanshan District, Linyi City, Shandong Province: Langya Garden, located on the east side of South Road at the intersection of Linxi 11th Road and Blossom River South Street, which covers an area of about 957 square meters. Linyi Water Rhythm Langya

1900-603: A statement in June saying NYU is forcing him to leave at the end of June because of pressure from the Chinese government. This claim was denied by the university, as well as by professor Jerome A. Cohen , Chen's mentor who arranged for his placement at NYU. Despite these denials, his departure followed within days of NYU's agreement with the Chinese authorities to open the NYU Shanghai campus. Chen's close association with conservative Christian and anti-abortion figures since coming to

1995-440: A total length of approximately 166.6 kilometers and 138 stations, including 14 transfer stations, with an average distance of 1.2 kilometers between stations. According to the seventh national census in 2020, the city's resident population was 11,018,400, accounting for 10.85% of the province's population, ranking first in the province. The sex ratio of the population is 104.66%, and the proportion of elderly people aged 65 and above

SECTION 20

#1732855557614

2090-666: A total of 1,020,145 additional persons. 605,821 of these were male, and 414,324 were female. Of the foreign nationals, 120,750 were from the Republic of Korea , 71,493 were from the United States , 66,159 were from Japan , 39,776 were from Myanmar , 36,205 were from Vietnam , 19,990 were from Canada , 15,087 were from France , 15,051 were from India , 14,446 were from Germany , and 13,286 were from Australia . The remaining 181,589 were from other countries. According to The Economist , China had only 1,448 naturalised Chinese in total at

2185-533: A way again. In an editorial on May 4, Beijing Daily described Chen as "a tool and a pawn for American politicians to denigrate China". The daily also accused US ambassador Gary Locke of stirring up trouble by sheltering Chen, and questioned Locke's motives. On May 4, after Chen made clear his desire to leave China for the United States, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that, if he wished to study abroad, he could "apply through normal channels to

2280-474: Is 14.12%. Compared with the Sixth National Census, there was an increase of 979,000 people in ten years, an increase of 9.75%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.93%, which is higher than that of the whole province and the whole country by 0.4 and 0.35 percentage points respectively. There are 3.9 million family households and 10.666 million people living in the city. The city's resident population in

2375-549: Is a water recreation attraction completed in September 2022.It covers an area of more than 20,000 square feet. Linyi New Langya Nocturnal City is a commercial and cultural street to be built in Linyi around 2022. With performances and ancient buildings inside, every part of this place is a landmark in Linyi. 2010 Chinese census The 2010 Chinese census , officially the Sixth National Population Census of

2470-520: Is divided into three districts and nine counties, namely Lanshan District, Nanfang District, Luozhuang District, Yinan County, Tancheng County, Yishui County, Lanling County, Feixian County, Pingyi County, Junan County, Mengyin County and Linshu County. Linyi has a history of 2400 years. It is home to many historical figures, notably Zhuge Liang and Wang Xizhi . In 1972, the Sun Tzu's Art of War

2565-513: Is transforming our world". The citation stated, "He may have lost his sight as a child, but Chen Guangcheng's legal vision has helped illuminate the plight of thousands of Chinese villagers." In 2007, Chen won the Ramon Magsaysay Award while still in detention. The award, often called the "Asian Nobel Prize", was bestowed for "his irrepressible passion for justice in leading ordinary Chinese citizens to assert their legitimate rights under

2660-603: The New York Review of Books , Chen said that although his family did not identify with an organized religion, his upbringing was informed by a "traditional belief in virtue that's present in Chinese culture—that might have some Buddhist content, but not necessarily that one believes in Buddhism." His village was poor, with many families living at a subsistence level. "When I went to school I'd be happy if I just got enough to eat", he recalled. Chen's father worked as an instructor at

2755-787: The 2020 Chinese census , of which 3,651,868 lived in the built-up area made up of Lanshan District, Luozhuang District and Hedong District, as well as Linyi National Hi-Tech Zone. According to the (China) Shandong Provincial Seventh National Population Census Bulletin - Hongheiku Statistical Bulletin Database (hongheiku. com), the permanent population of Linyi City is 11018365, with 51.14% males and 48.86% females. The age structure of 0-14 years old accounts for 23.46%, 15-59 years old accounts for 56.91%, over 60 years old accounts for 19.63%, and over 65 years old accounts for 14.12%. The prefecture-level city of Linyi administers 12 county-level divisions , including three districts and nine counties . Linyi

2850-596: The British Foreign Secretary , Human Rights Watch , and Amnesty International issuing appeals for his release; the latter group designated him a prisoner of conscience . Chen won the laureate of Ramon in 2006, is a 2007 laureate of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and in 2006 was named to the Time 100 . In April 2012 Chen escaped his house arrest and fled to the Embassy of the United States, Beijing . After negotiations with

2945-585: The Catholic University of America and a Senior Distinguished Advisor to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice . On October 16, 2013 Chen made his first public appearance in his role as a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Witherspoon Institute. He delivered a public lecture at Princeton University entitled "China and the World in the 21st Century: The Next Human Rights Revolution", which

Linyi - Misplaced Pages Continue

3040-523: The Eurasian Land Bridge . The urban area lies on mostly flat land that gives way to more rugged terrain in the west and northwest of the city's administrative area, which covers 17,184 km (6,635 sq mi). Linyi has a monsoon -influenced climate with generous summer precipitation, cold, dry winters, and hot, humid summers. Under the Köppen climate classification , it is in the transition from

3135-449: The humid subtropical zone ( Cwa ) to the humid continental zone ( Dwa ), though favouring the former. It has the characteristics of suitable climate, distinct four seasons, sufficient sunshine, abundant rainfall, and long frost free period.More than half of the annual precipitation of 833 mm (32.8 in) falls in July and August alone, and the frost-free period is above 200 days. After

3230-516: The 2010 census. Chen Guangcheng Chen Guangcheng (born November 12, 1971) is a Chinese civil rights activist who has worked on human rights issues in rural areas of the People's Republic of China . Blind from an early age and self-taught in the law, Chen is frequently described as a " barefoot lawyer " who advocates for women's rights , land rights , and the welfare of the poor. In 2005 Chen gained international recognition for organising

3325-467: The Beicheng New Area, under the slogan "Grand Linyi, Beautiful Linyi, New Linyi". Multiple recreational parks were built, along with new school campuses etc. The development is a consequence of a series of governmental projects, including relocate the city government, which is expected to stimulate the economy. The population was 11,018,365 at the 2010 Chinese census ,The population was 10,993,100 at

3420-483: The CNN crew having stones thrown at them, and being pursued in their minivan for more than 40 minutes. On April 22, 2012, Chen escaped from house arrest. Chen's fellow activist Hu Jia stated that Chen had been planning escape for a long time, and had previously attempted to dig a tunnel for escape. In the weeks leading up to his escape, Chen gave his guards the impression that he was ill in bed, and stopped appearing outside

3515-590: The Chinese government and the CCP for the "lawless punishment inflicted on (himself) and (his) family over the past seven years". He said that "those who handled my case were able to openly flout the nation's laws in many ways for many years." In an April 2013 testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee , Chen said that Chinese authorities had failed to deliver on promises to investigate allegations of mistreatment against him and his family. Chen issued

3610-457: The Chinese government prosecute corruption cases under the law. The New York Times described the situation as a "diplomatic quandary" at a time when the U.S. was seeking to improve relations with China and seeks its support with respect to crises in Iran, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. BBC News described Chen's escape as coming at "an unwelcome time for China's leaders", who were still dealing with

3705-414: The Chinese government, he left the embassy for medical treatment in early May 2012, and it was reported that China would consider allowing him to travel to the United States to study. On May 19, 2012, Chen, his wife, and his two children were granted U.S. visas and departed Beijing for New York City . In October 2013, Chen accepted a position with the conservative research group Witherspoon Institute , and

3800-552: The GDP of Linyi will reach 610.5 billion yuan, which is 3591 times that of 1949, and the total economic output will jump to the fifth place in the province. Linyi's economy is based around its wholesale markets. The Linyi Wholesale City is ranked 3rd in its category in China with an annual trade volume of 40 billion RMB (~US$ 5 billion). The Linyi prefecture has developed more than 1,500 specialized villages, over 80 specialized towns and nearly 800 industrialized agricultural enterprises. In 2014

3895-730: The Linyi Intermediate Court in Shandong Province rejected his final appeal. The same court had overturned his original conviction in December 2006, citing lack of evidence. However, Chen was convicted in a second trial on identical charges and given an identical sentence by the Yinan court. Following the trial, Amnesty International declared him to be a prisoner of conscience , "jailed solely for his peaceful activities in defence of human rights". After his release from prison in 2010, Chen

Linyi - Misplaced Pages Continue

3990-523: The Meng River, destroying crops and harming wildlife. The chemicals also reportedly caused skin and digestive problems among villagers living downstream from the mill. Chen organized villagers in his hometown and 78 other villages to petition against the mill. The effort was successful, and resulted in the suspension of the paper mill. In addition, Chen contacted the British embassy in Beijing , informing them of

4085-740: The PRC. In 1989 at the age of 18 Chen began attending school as a grade one student at the Elementary School for the Blind in Linyi city. In 1994, he enrolled at the Qingdao High School for the Blind, where he studied until 1998. He had already begun developing an interest in law, and would often ask his brothers to read legal texts to him. He earned a position at the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1998 but because his family

4180-680: The People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国第六次全国人口普查), was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China with a zero hour of November 1, 2010. Census procedure was governed by the Regulations on National Population Census and the Circular of the State Council on the Conduct of the 6th National Population Census. The census cost 700 million RMB . The main findings of

4275-661: The United States, including representative Chris Smith , pastor Bob Fu , and media consultant Mark Corallo , has concerned old supporters like Cohen. In October 2013 Chen accepted an offer from the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton , New Jersey . Chen became a Distinguished Senior Fellow in Human Rights at the Witherspoon Institute, as well as a visiting fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at

4370-589: The Yimeng Mountains and flow into the East China Sea. The municipal government is located at No.17 Beijing Road, Lanshan District. Linyi is one of the third batch of National Civilized Cities, China's Outstanding Tourist Cities, China's Garden Cities, China's Hygienic Cities, China's Model Environmental Protection Cities and National Forest Cities. The city recently expanded along the Yi River to Nanfang, now called

4465-501: The agreement brokered with Chinese authorities provided that Chen would be freed from soft detention , relocated, and be permitted to finish his legal education at one of several law schools in China. Chinese officials also promised to investigate "extra-legal activities" taken by Shandong province authorities against Chen and his family. Chen left the embassy of his own accord on May 2, was reunited with his family, and admitted to Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital for medical treatment. During

4560-551: The award. In 2012, Chen was chosen as the recipient of the Human Rights Award from the New York-based NGO Human Rights First . In explaining the choice, the organization's president Elisa Massimino stated, "Mr. Chen's activism has reignited an international conversation about the need to protect human rights lawyers around the world who face great danger for their courageous work." In 2014 he received

4655-480: The case and imprisoned Chen Guangcheng on charges of fomenting state resistance. Due in part to the severity and scope of these abuses Linyi has been used by activists to criticize China's violation of women's rights. Linyi is in the south of Shandong province, not far from the ports of Rizhao , Lanshan District, Rizhao and Lianyungang . It is along the G2 Beijing–Shanghai Expressway as well as

4750-399: The census were published on April 28, 2011. It found the total population of Mainland China to be 1,339,724,852 persons, an increase of 73,899,804 persons from the previous census conducted in 2000 . This represented a growth rate of 5.84% over the decade, and an average annual growth rate of 0.57%. The population undercount rate of the census was estimated at 0.12%. The census also listed

4845-452: The complaints were being investigated. "If the Linyi complaints are true, or even partly true, it's because local officials do not understand the new demands of the Chinese leadership regarding family planning work", said the official. In September 2005, the commission announced that several Linyi officials had been detained. But local authorities in Linyi retaliated against Chen, placing him under house arrest in September 2005 and embarking on

SECTION 50

#1732855557614

4940-609: The couple's two children settled in a housing complex for students and faculty of New York University , located in Greenwich Village . He reportedly began studying English for two hours per day, in addition to having regular meetings with American legal scholars. His memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer , was published in March 2015 by Henry Holt and Company . On May 29, 2012 Chen published an editorial in The New York Times criticizing

5035-519: The courtroom for the trial. Authorities appointed their own public defender for Chen just before the trial began. The trial lasted only two hours. On August 24, 2006, Chen was sentenced to four years and three months for "damaging property and organizing a mob to disturb traffic". As a result of Chen's trial, British foreign secretary Margaret Beckett selected his case for the cover of the British government's 2006 human rights report, stating concern over

5130-425: The crimes due to his constant surveillance by police. Chen was removed from his house in March 2006 and was formally detained in June 2006 by Yinan County officials. He was scheduled to stand trial on July 17, 2006 on charges of destruction of property and assembling a crowd to disrupt traffic, but this was delayed at the request of the prosecution. According to Radio Free Asia and Chinese Human Rights Defenders ,

5225-462: The early 2000s. In March 2002, Newsweek magazine ran a cover story on Chen and the " barefoot lawyer " movement in China, detailing his advocacy on behalf of villagers and disabled people. His profile rose further in 2005 when he filed a landmark class-action suit taking on abuses of the one-child policy . In 2006, Chen Guangcheng was named one of the Time 100 , Time 's annual list of "100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example

5320-460: The embassy by threatening his family. U.S. negotiators stated that while in the embassy, Chen had been told by Chinese officials that if he sought asylum in the United States, his wife and daughter would likely remain under house arrest in Shandong. However, they maintained that they had not heard of the threats from local officials that his family would be beaten, and that they had not communicated such

5415-528: The embassy initially declined to confirm or deny reports that they were sheltering him. The embassy later said they had accepted Chen on humanitarian grounds and offered him medical assistance. On April 27, Chen appeared in an internet video in which he expressed his concern that the authorities would carry out "insane retribution" on his family and made three demands of Premier Wen Jiabao : 1) that local officials who allegedly assaulted his family be prosecuted; 2) that his family's safety be guaranteed; and 3) that

5510-419: The escape "electrified China's rights activists". Kurt M. Campbell , an assistant secretary of state, quietly arrived in Beijing on April 29 for negotiations with representatives of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After several days of media speculation as to his whereabouts, Chen was confirmed on 2 May to have been under U.S. diplomatic protection at the embassy. According to embassy representatives,

5605-498: The handling of Chen's case and calling for the Chinese government "to prove its commitment to building rule of law". A columnist for The Globe and Mail also criticized the verdict, writing that "Even assuming [Chen] did damage 'doors and windows,' as well as cars, and interrupt traffic for three hours, it is difficult to argue a four-year prison sentence is somehow proportionate to the offence." On November 30, 2006 Yinan County court upheld Chen's sentence, and on January 12, 2007,

5700-616: The house, which allowed him several days before any absence would be discovered. Under cover of darkness and with the help of his wife, Chen climbed over the wall around his house, breaking his foot in the process. When he came upon the Meng River, he found it to be guarded, but crossed anyway and was not stopped; he later stated that he believed the guards had been asleep. Though he recollected his immediate surroundings from his childhood explorations, he eventually passed into less familiar territory; he later told his supporters that he fell more than 200 times during his escape. Communicating with

5795-464: The incident to foreign journalists, Chen said that authorities threatened to levy criminal charges against him for providing state secrets or intelligence to foreign organizations. After Chen refused negotiations with local officials to cease his activism, Linyi authorities placed him under effective house arrest beginning in September 2005. When he attempted to escape in October, he was beaten. Xinhua ,

SECTION 60

#1732855557614

5890-509: The initial negotiations in the U.S. embassy, Chen did not request asylum in the United States or considered leaving China, but instead demanded to remain there as a free man. However, soon after leaving the embassy, Chen feared that Chinese authorities would renege on their promises or take punitive actions against his family members. While in the hospital, Chinese security personnel barred U.S. diplomatic staff from meeting with him. Rumors emerged that Chinese officials had coerced Chen into leaving

5985-467: The issue of illegal land requisitions . When village authorities failed to respond, villagers escalated their appeals to the township, county and municipal governments, still without response. Village authorities then began to publicly threaten villagers. In November 2004, Chen acted on behalf of villagers to file a lawsuit in the Qi'nan County Court against the local Public Security Bureau for negligence. The case

6080-513: The law". According to AIDS activist Hu Jia , Chen's wife Yuan Weijing attempted to attend the Magsaysay Award ceremony on her husband's behalf, her passport was revoked and her mobile phone was confiscated by Chinese authorities at Beijing Capital International Airport . The National Endowment for Democracy honored Chen with the 2008 Democracy Award. Chen was one of seven Chinese lawyers and civil rights activists to be named as recipients of

6175-440: The law, the family should have received government assistance and exemption from taxation. When the case went to court, blind citizens from surrounding counties were in attendance as a show of solidarity. The case was successful, and the outcome became well-known. In 1997 the leaders of Chen's village began implementing a land use plan that gave authorities control over 60 percent of land, which they then rented out at high cost to

6270-417: The municipal districts was 3.652 million, accounting for 33.14% of the city's resident population, an increase of 5.8 percentage points from 2010, while the resident population in the nine counties was 7.366 million, accounting for 66.86% of the city's resident population. The male population was 5.634 million, accounting for 51.14%; the female population was 5.384 million, accounting for 48.86%. The sex ratio of

6365-470: The news agency of the Chinese government, stated that on February 5, 2006, Chen instigated others "to damage and smash cars belonging to the Shuanghou Police Station and the town government" as well as attack local government officials. Time reported that witnesses to Chen's protest disputed the government's version of events, and his lawyers argued that it was unlikely he could have committed

6460-541: The number with higher education has increased from 3,611 to 8,930, the number with senior secondary education has increased from 11,146 to 14,032, the number with junior secondary education increased from 33,961 to 38,788, and the number of people with only primary education decreased from 35,701 to 26,779. The illiteracy rate declined from 6.72% to 4.08%. The census also recorded 593,832 foreign nationals, 234,829 residents of Hong Kong SAR, 21,201 residents of Macau SAR, and 170,283 residents of Taiwan residing in Mainland China,

6555-449: The population is male, and 48.73% is female, giving a male to female ratio of 105.20 men for every 100 women, a decrease from the 2000 figure of 106.74. 49.68% of the population resided in urban areas, and 50.32% resided in rural areas, an increase of 13.46% in the proportion of the urban population . 261,386,075 people had lived in a place different from their household registration for at least six months, with 221,426,652 of these living in

6650-400: The population of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as 7,097,600 persons, the population of Macau Special Administrative Region as 552,300 persons, and the population of Taiwan as 23,162,123 persons. The census found a total of 401,517,330 family households in Mainland China, with an average of 3.10 persons per household, a decrease of 0.34 persons from the 2000 census. 51.27% of

6745-435: The population was 104.66, 0.41 percentage points lower than that of the whole country, and 1.28 percentage points higher than that of 2010. 2.585 million people, or 23.46%, were aged 0-14; 6.27 million, or 56.91%, were aged 15-59; and 2.163 million, or 19.63%, were aged 60 and above, with 1.555 million, or 14.6%, being aged 65 and above. The population aged 65 and above was 1.555 million, accounting for 14.12%. Compared with 2010,

6840-580: The prefecture's GDP was 369 billion RMB. Main industrial products are: textiles, foodstuffs, machinery, electronics, chemicals, building materials, coal, medicines, gold and porcelain. Machinery is exported to Europe, the Americas and south-east Asia. Linyi prefecture has an annual capacity of three million tons of compound fertilizers. The city is served by Linyi Qiyang Airport . Linyi Qiyang International Airport. Linyi Metro.The urban rail transit network planned for Linyi City in 2030 consists of 5 lines, with

6935-407: The proportion of the population aged 0-14 years rose by 5.33 percentage points, 5.51 and 4.68 percentage points above the national and provincial averages, while the proportion of the population aged 15-59 years fell by 10.61 percentage points. There are 53 ethnic groups in Linyi, mainly Han Chinese, with 10,608,800 people, accounting for 99.45% of the resident population; 52 ethnic minorities, with

7030-474: The prosecution delayed the trial because a crowd of Chen supporters gathered outside the courthouse. With only a few days' notice, authorities rescheduled Chen's trial for August 18, 2006. On the eve of his trial, all three of his lawyers, including Xu Zhiyong of the Yitong Law Firm , were detained by Yinan police; two were released after being questioned. Neither Chen's lawyers nor his wife were allowed in

7125-602: The reform and opening up, Linyi's economy entered a stage of rapid development, with its GDP surpassing the 5 billion yuan and 10 billion yuan thresholds in 1987 and 1991, respectively. Although Rizhao, Yiyuan, and Juxian counties and cities were successively separated (with a zoning area of about 5600 square kilometers), they still crossed six steps of 100 billion yuan, 200 billion yuan, 300 billion yuan, 400 billion yuan, 500 billion yuan, and 600 billion yuan in 2004, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2023, respectively. The total volume has increased by more than eight times in 45 years. In 2023,

7220-712: The relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen." On the same day, Chen was offered a visiting scholar position at New York University . On May 19, Chen, his wife, and his two children, having been granted U.S. visas , departed Beijing on a commercial flight for Newark , New Jersey . While Chen was living under house arrest, several of his family members also reportedly faced harassment and confinement by authorities. His elderly mother, Wang Jinxiang, recalled being continuously followed by three security agents. The BBC reported in May 2012 that she remained under house arrest. Before leaving China in

7315-428: The situation and requesting funding for a well to supply clean water to locals. The British government responded by providing £15,000 towards a deep water well, irrigation systems and water pipelines. In March 2004 more than 300 residents from Chen's village of Dongshigu filed a petition to the village government demanding that they release the village accounts—which hadn't been made public for over ten years—and address

7410-411: The spring of 2012, Chen expressed concern that his relatives and other activists who had helped him evade capture would be punished by Chinese officials after his departure. On April 27, 2012 soon after Chen escaped house arrest, plainclothes security agents forced entry into the home of his eldest brother, Chen Guangfu. Believing that the elder brother had information on Chen's escape, police took him to

7505-417: The study sessions, and were allegedly beaten. In 2005 Chen filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of women from Linyi against the city's family planning staff. And in June, he traveled to Beijing to file the complaint and meet with foreign reporters to publicize the case. Although there had been prior instances of Chinese citizens filing complaints about abuses under the one-child policy, Chen's initiative

7600-571: The villages. The plan, known as the "two-field system", was a major source of enrichment for the local government. While studying in Nanjing the following year, however, Chen learned that the program was illegal, and he petitioned central authorities in Beijing to end the system, thereby irritating local officials. In 2000 Chen returned from his studies in Nanjing to his village of Dongshigu in an effort to confront environmental pollution. A paper mill constructed in 1988 had been dumping toxic wastewater into

7695-618: The walls on April 19, 1938. The defenders withdrew the next day to another contested area 49 kilometers away. In 1946, during the Chinese Civil War , the CPC Directorate General of Shandong Wartime Posts was moved from the Yimeng Mountains to Linyi and renamed the Shandong Provincial Postal Administration. After the People's Republic of China was founded in October 1949, the administrative division

7790-459: The windows of their house. Harassment of Chen's family continued throughout his house arrest, and extended to Chen's six-year-old daughter, who was briefly banned from attending school and had her toys confiscated by guards, and to Chen's mother, who was harassed while working in the fields. Authorities reportedly told Chen that they had spent 60 million yuan ($ 9.5 million) to keep him under house arrest. In 2011 The New York Times reported that

7885-446: Was accepted, and proceedings began in early 2005. In 2005 Chen spent several months surveying residents of Shandong Province, collecting accounts of forced, late-term abortions and forced sterilization of women who stood in violation of China's one-child policy. His survey was based in Linyi and included surrounding rural suburbs. Chen later recalled that his survey would have been significantly larger in scope were he not limited by

7980-400: Was adjusted. In 2005, Linyi drew international attention as a center of human rights abuses related to the enforcement of China's controversial family planning policies . Following widespread allegations of violence and coercion in excess of Chinese law, local human rights defender Chen Guangcheng filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the victims. The local Chinese courts refused to hear

8075-428: Was built in the early 1990s on the site of an old army barracks. It is about 500 metres (1,600 ft) east-west, and about 300 m (980 ft) north-south. Underneath it is a shopping centre and entertainment facilities. Just north of the city centre is a park dedicated to Wang Xizhi , the former residence of Wang Xizhi. The former residence of Wang Xizhi is the birthplace of the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi. For

8170-609: Was co-sponsored by the Witherspoon Institute and the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The text of Chen's speech, translated into English, was then published online. In the speech, Chen called on the American people to support the Chinese people by fighting against the oppressive Communist government of China. He reminded the audience that even small actions undertaken in defense of human rights can have

8265-469: Was first discovered here, along with other classics on hand written bamboo slips . Sun Tzu's Art of War is currently in display at Shandong Provincial museum. On July 25, 1668, an earthquake that had an estimated magnitude of M s   8.5, occurred just northeast of Linyi, making it the largest historical earthquake in Eastern China , and one of the largest in the world on land. In Linyi, no house

8360-523: Was left standing, and black water was said to emerge from ground fissures that opened up after the earthquake. In the spring of 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War , the city was the scene of fierce fighting between Chinese and Japanese troops. The civilians were encouraged by army victory in the Battle of Tai'erzhuang , which was nearby, defended Linyi fiercely, but Japanese soldiers breached

8455-675: Was moved by the exchange, and later that year, she traveled to Chen's village to meet him. The couple eloped in 2003. Their son, Chen Kerui, was born later that year. In 2005 they had a second child—a daughter named Chen Kesi—in violation of China's one-child policy. Yuan, who had been working as an English teacher at the time of the marriage, left her job in 2003 in order to assist her husband in his legal work. Chen first petitioned authorities in 1996, when he traveled to Beijing to complain about taxes that were incorrectly being levied on his family (people with disabilities, such as Chen, are supposed to be exempt from taxation and fees). The complaint

8550-605: Was placed under house arrest against Chinese law, and was closely monitored by security forces. Legally, he was proclaimed by the government to be a free man, but in reality the local government offered no explanation for the hundreds of unidentified agents monitoring his house and preventing visitors or escape. He and his wife attempted to communicate with the outside world via video tape and letters. Letters described beatings Chen and his wife were subjected to, seizure of documents and communication devices, cutting off of electric power to their residence, and placing of metal sheets over

8645-533: Was poor, they had to borrow $ 340 to cover tuition costs. They still fell short of the required $ 400 and university authorities reportedly had to be pleaded with before allowing Chen to enroll. He studied in Nanjing from 1998 to 2001, specializing in acupuncture and massage—the only programs available to the blind. Chen also audited legal courses, gaining a sufficient understanding of the law to allow him to aid his fellow villagers when they sought his assistance. After graduation he returned to his home region and found

8740-518: Was released from prison in 2010 after serving his full sentence, but remained under house arrest or " soft detention " at his home in Dongshigu Village. Chen and his wife were reportedly beaten shortly after a human rights group released a video of their home under intense police surveillance in February 2011. Chen's case received sustained international attention, with the U.S. State Department ,

8835-400: Was reported that Chen Guangfu had escaped to Beijing from his guarded village to advocate on behalf of his son. In November 2012, Chen Kegui was sentenced to more than three years in prison. On November 4, 2013 Chen Guangfu said he would fly to New York City with his mother two days later for a reunion with his brother Chen Guangcheng. Following his arrival in the U.S., Chen, his wife, and

8930-514: Was successful, and Chen began petitioning for other individuals with disabilities. With funding from a British foundation, Chen became an outspoken activist for disability rights within the China Law Society . His reputation as a disability rights advocate was solidified when agreed to advocate for an elderly blind couple whose grandchildren had paralysis. The family had been paying all of the regular taxes and fees, but Chen believed that, under

9025-481: Was the first class-action lawsuit to challenge its implementation. Although the suit he filed was rejected, the case garnered international media attention. Responding to questions about Chen's allegation, a senior official with the National Population and Family Planning Commission told The Washington Post that the practice of forced abortions and sterilizations was "definitely illegal", and indicated that

#613386