this chap is no pushover. he's crafty and a master manipulator. everybody with an ounce of a brain thinks both u.s. and china are using this "poor, handicap" ping pong ball for manipulation and counter-manipulation to win world opinion on human rights and free speech. the exact opposite is true. this guy is playing both sides for his own personal agenda. first of all, he's blind and he cannot see china's economic progress and the improvements on quality of life at both macro and micro levels. second, he wants to better his circumstance and that of his family like all chinese families do, and capitalize on his fame, "persecution" even if contrived and handicap condition to extract sympathy to propel himself and family on the world stage, if not the u.s. psyche.
he timed the drama well, right before the sec of state visit to china. and he's gonna get everything he wished for. vip status in the state department. direct meeting or at least call with sec of state. even the u.s. ambassador's personal escort, care and treatment are not enough for his ego. next, he wants to meet the potus. and then give a speech in congress. he will be wealthy and famous in the u.s. harvard and any other ivy league will want him and pay for his scholarship. he will appear on american tv and make at least usd50k per appearance. every speech he gives will fetch at least 100k. he will start on a book, and that alone will make millions. he and his family will be set for life. hollywood may adapt the saga into a movie, and he will reap royalties when he retires. he had it all planned out. genius.
