04 Aug 2010 17:57:45
Author Yu Jie said his new book aims to show the vast difference between the prim premier's image and his hard-line policies. "China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao" will be published this month in Hong Kong despite police threats he could be put in prison, the author said.
"This is a completely deceptive way to speak to people," Yu said in an interview Wednesday.
The soft-spoken Yu, 36, was a best-selling author before his books were banned in China not long after Wen became premier in 2003. Yu helped found the Independent PEN Center in China, which fights for freedom of expression, and is a vocal Christian who has angered authorities by outspokenly advocating religious freedom.
Yu said he discussed his new book with U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman during a meeting Tuesday about freedom of expression and other topics, after an invitation from the embassy. "He was very interested in the book and asked detailed questions," Yu said.
Embassy spokesman Richard Buangan confirmed the two met briefly but did not elaborate.
Yu said the Chinese-language "China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao," will be published Aug. 16 in Hong Kong, a former British colony that enjoys freedom of the press as part of its special semiautonomous status.
The publisher is Bao Pu, who earlier this year tried to publish a memoir purportedly written by Li Peng, China's premier in 1989 when authorities cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrators at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Bao dropped the memoir because of copyright problems.
"This is a completely deceptive way to speak to people," Yu said in an interview Wednesday.
The soft-spoken Yu, 36, was a best-selling author before his books were banned in China not long after Wen became premier in 2003. Yu helped found the Independent PEN Center in China, which fights for freedom of expression, and is a vocal Christian who has angered authorities by outspokenly advocating religious freedom.
Yu said he discussed his new book with U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman during a meeting Tuesday about freedom of expression and other topics, after an invitation from the embassy. "He was very interested in the book and asked detailed questions," Yu said.
Embassy spokesman Richard Buangan confirmed the two met briefly but did not elaborate.
Yu said the Chinese-language "China's Best Actor: Wen Jiabao," will be published Aug. 16 in Hong Kong, a former British colony that enjoys freedom of the press as part of its special semiautonomous status.
The publisher is Bao Pu, who earlier this year tried to publish a memoir purportedly written by Li Peng, China's premier in 1989 when authorities cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrators at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Bao dropped the memoir because of copyright problems.
