Writing for the National Review, Ambassador John Bolton details how in his new book Chinese human rights activist, Chen Guangcheng, paints a starkly different picture of his escape to America - and the priorities of then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton - than the one published in "Hard Choices" by Clinton herself. Bolton highlights the role played by Clinton's point man during the crisis, Howard Koh, Legal Advisor to the State Department.
"Beijing diplomats worked to persuade Clinton's aides, who responded by working to persuade Chen...State's top lawyer, Harold Koh, 'spoke movingly of the difficulties Chen would face if he decided to leave China,' suggesting that Chen study law at NYU's Shanghai campus. (This was a far more dangerous offer than what Chen says NYU actually proposed - that he study at the school's Manhattan campus, in safety in America rather than under a Chinese gun.) Clinton complains that Chen hardened his tone, insisting his vulnerable family be brought to Beijing before any final decisions...Koh continued to press the urgent need to decide. 'The first time we met,' Koh said to Chen, 'I told you that time was of the essence. I don't think you should refuse an offer that's already in hand [to stay in China and study law at NYU Shanghai]. This is a good proposal." Chinese officials "are quite angry with you, and also angry at the U.S.,' Koh opined, hardly comforting to a man fearing for his life from those very officials. Clinton's aides "kept encouraging me, as if I were a child, to see just how beneficial the Chinese terms were," Chen writes...Finally, Koh told Chen he has 20 minutes to decide, or Beijing will declare him a traitor. Chen asked himself, 'At this point, what could I do?'..."