Ai Weiwei's sister, Gao Ge, said that police took Ai's wife Lu Qing to meet him at an undisclosed location on Sunday night
Ai Weiwei's wife has been able to meet the detained artist and activist for the first time since he went missing 43 days ago, a relative said today.
No one had been able to contact the 53-year-old since officials stopped him at Beijing airport on 3 April.
But his sister Gao Ge said that police took Ai's wife Lu Qing to meet him at an undisclosed location on Sunday night. She reported that he seemed healthy and was being given access to the medicine he needs for diabetes.
"They weren't allowed to talk about much. They sat across a table from each other," Gao said.
"Lu didn't check the exact time, but it was a very short visit. ... It seems he's being taken care of, taking medicine on time and is able to move around. But other topics were off limits."
She added: "Now that we've seen that his health is OK, of course we are a bit less anxious, but that's not to say we want him to stay where he is...We really want this case to be dealt with as soon as possible and for the government to follow proper procedures in keeping with Chinese law."
Ai's mother Gao Ying said: "Now [knowing she] saw him, I feel much better."
The artist's friend Wen Tao, 38, driver and cousin Zhang Jinsong, also known as Xiao Pang, 43, accountant Hu Mingfen, 55, and colleague Liu Zhenggang, 49, remain missing.
Officials have said Ai is under investigation for suspected economic crimes and that his case is not related to human rights. Last week, vice foreign minister Fu Ying said it was "very condescending for the Europeans to come in to tell China that some people are beyond the law".
Fu made the comments after talks with Catherine Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, although Fu said Ai was not raised in discussions.
"There are rules and laws in China that need to be applied just like here," Fu said. "And individuals, maybe they are your friends, maybe they agree with you more than others, but that should not make [them] ... above the law." Police have not formally notified the family of his detention - required within 24 hours under Chinese law, unless it would impede the investigation - and relatives believe his detention is retaliation for his social and political activism.
Gao Ying told CBS recently that officials told her they were investigating "whether or not he was involved with an 'event'".
She said she had told them she could guarantee with her life that he was an individual artist who had nothing to do with protest movements.
"I think in reality, he was taken because he was protecting the rights of ordinary citizens and speaking for them. ...His goal was not to go against his country. He wants this country to develop on a healthy path. I think ...he offended people in power and they hate him, so now they are looking for an opportunity to take him down," she added.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/may/16/ai-weiwei-allowed-visit-from-wife
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