TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 24 (UPI) -- Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng praised Taiwan Monday for its democracy, while refusing to discuss allegations he made about New York University.
Chen arrived in Taipei Monday for an 18-day visit in Taiwan, The New York Times reported.
"The democracy and rule of law in Taiwan show that democracy is not an institution that is unique to the West," Chen said at a news conference in Taipei. "The success of democracy in Taiwan also exposed the Chinese government's lie that democracy does not work for the Chinese."
Chen, a legal activist, fled China last year amid a diplomatic crisis and has since been living in New York. He recently alleged New York University, which has hosted him for the past year, caved to pressure by China to remove him. The university has denied the allegations.
When asked about the controversy at the press conference, Chen said: "I have nothing to add. Now that I'm in Taiwan let's focus on Taiwan and its democracy."
