Chinese activist Feng Zhenghu spoke to reporters yesterday at Narita International Airport near Tokyo, where he has camped out for more than 90 days as a protest.
(Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)
Activist living at airport might go home
Chinese activist Feng Zhenghu spoke to reporters yesterday at Narita International Airport near Tokyo, where he has camped out for more than 90 days as a protest.
(Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)
NARITA, Japan - A Chinese activist who has spent more than three months living inside Tokyo’s international airport said yesterday that Chinese officials have given him permission to return home.
Feng Zhenghu has been camping out at Narita International Airport since early November to protest China’s refusal to let him enter his homeland. Feng had angered the Chinese government with writings on alleged wrongdoing by local authorities and for supporting student protests.
Feng had already announced Sunday that he had decided to end his protest after meeting with officials from the Chinese Embassy last week. But it wasn’t clear until yesterday whether China would allow him to reenter the country; he had been denied entry eight times since June, prompting his protest.
“Chinese officials told me that they are giving me permission to go back to Shanghai,’’ Feng, 55, told reporters yesterday at the airport terminal, where reporters were allowed in by security.
He said he planned to enter Japan today before heading back to Shanghai for the Chinese New Year in mid-February.
Feng said yesterday that he was certain this attempt to return home would be successful.
“I won’t be rejected again. That would be impossible,’’ he said. “If that happens, it’s not my problem. It’s the Chinese government’s problem.’’
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