The Chinese author of a controversial book that criticizes Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) called Beijing authorities “stupid” on Thursday for putting pressuring him not to publish, saying it has simply boosted sales.
Yu Jie (余杰), the 36-year-old author of Wen Jiabao: China’s Best Actor, said his work had had been reprinted because of demand and has now sold over 10,000 copies, adding that he was in discussions about translating it for foreign readers.
Speaking in Los Angeles, he told of being interrogated for four-and-a-half hours by security agents in July, and warned that he might be jailed like Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) — a fellow Chinese writer tipped as a possible Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The Western media reporting of the Chinese warning “made a lot of readers jump on the book,” which was published in August, Yu told a student audience at the University of Southern California.
“Usually 2,000 copies is good enough in Hong Kong and Taiwan. But in one month, this book has been reprinted and sold more than 10,000 copies,” he said. “I believe that the Chinese authorities might consider they have done something very stupid” by boosting publicity for it.”
He said he thought Beijing might since have realized its mistake as after the book’s publication, “instead of being continually harassed, I have even enjoyed the opportunity to come to the United States.”
Yu welcomed the prospect of his work being translated for an even wider audience.
“I am actually in discussions with some of the translators now,” he said afterward.
His books have been banned on the Chinese mainland since 2004, but are widely available in Hong Kong.
The book on Wen risked causing shockwaves when it was published, as China’s premier enjoys a generally good reputation both at home and abroad.
In his book, Yu says Wen was only playing the role of “the best mediator” between an authoritarian ruler and his citizens, pretending that people are living a prosperous and happy life under a crumpling leadership
Speaking through a translator, the dissident author said he wanted to reason with the Chinese premier.
“I am more than willing to have a dialogue with Wen Jiabao himself, in person,” he said.
However, Yu also noted that six security agents in July came to his home “and accused me of endangering national security by publishing this book.”
Yu acknowledged that, although Chinese authorities seemed to be holding off putting pressure on him at the moment, it may not last.
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