Excerpted from CNN Newsroom:
HRIC Executive Director Sharon Hom: There was a tremendous amount at stake at the diplomatic level for the U.S., and there's a tremendous amount at stake for the Chinese government, which is not monolithic. So, in fact, the more accurate picture is, there's a tremendous amount at stake for the diverse interests on both sides. But the bottom line is, what will really insure the outcome in a way that's really going to respect the rights of not just Chen Guangcheng and his family, but all the people in China, is that protection is going to come from the efforts of Chinese people. It's really going to come from our own efforts. And it's going to come from the individuals who are courageous, like Chen Guangcheng and all the activists and supporters. But it's really going to come from inside China. That's what's going to affect the outcome of the human rights situation in China. We need the high-level U.S. and foreign diplomatic support that is very important to send a message that the Chinese citizens have the support of the foreign community.