Cancer specialists from the United States, Germany and other countries will join the medical team treating a political dissident detained by China since 2008. He has late-stage liver cancer.
China granted permission Wednesday for cancer specialists from the United States, Germany and other countries to help treat imprisoned political dissident and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo as he struggles with late-stage liver cancer, according to a statement released by a local judicial bureau.
The concession by China is seen by some as an attempt to improve its image on human rights as Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a G-20 Summit in Germany this weekend. Sources told Reuters that China is concerned the ailing Nobel laureate’s treatment could negatively affect President Xi’s talks at the gathering.
The brief statement Wednesday said the Chinese medical team had agreed with a request from Liu’s family for the foreign cancer experts. The statement did not specify which other foreign countries besides the United States and Germany may send experts.
As NPR has reported, late last month the 61-year-old Liu was allowed out of prison on parole for medical treatment after apparently receiving a diagnosis of terminal liver cancer at the end of May.
Liu’s supporters have questioned whether Chinese authorities intentionally delayed his diagnosis, according to the Associated Press .
