Limited freedom

Ai Weiwei, who was released from detention on June 22, spent his first evening of freedom after detention with his family. He told Deutsche Welle that he was doing well and he also thanked his supporters: "I am very thankful that so many people and internet users showed so much commitment and support in the last few months." He also said he wishes he could get online again. "I can't use the internet right now – I feel confined." He said he would not be able to leave Beijing for the next 12 months. That is about all he could say – on parole, he is not able to say too much.

Ai's release a gesture of friendship?

Ai Weiwei was released just as surprisingly and abruptly as he was arrested. Naturally, people are wondering what caused the Chinese government to release him now. This weekend Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will kick off his trip to Europe, where he will be visiting Berlin and London. Political scientist Eberhard Sandschneider of the German Council on Foreign Relations believes that Ai's release could be interpreted as a friendly gesture from Beijing. "It is imaginable that Wen Jiabao will want to talk as little as possible about Ai Weiwei," says Sandschneider. Thus, Ai’s release will clear the slate for Wen's visit.

Germany was especially outraged over Ai's detention. He was arrested at the airport right after German Foreign Secretary Guido Westerwelle had inaugurated an art exhibition on the Enlightenment in Beijing at the beginning of April. The German government was quick to criticize the arrest. Some critics wanted to shut down the German exhibition in Beijing because of the arrest.

Roderic Wye of Chatham House in the UK does not believe that Ai Weiwei's release has anything to do with Wen's trip to Europe. He says reasons for Ai's release lie within the politics of the Chinese government. "I think now, especially after so much international pressure, they have realized that it doesn’t make any sense to keep him locked up without bringing charges against him," says Wye.

Not yet free

Many experts believe that the government's decision to release Ai signals a chasm in China's Communist Party before it changes leadership next year. Hardliners within the party were abel to silence Ai by arresting him.

Now, it seems, the more liberal approach has won. But just because Ai is no longer in police custody does not mean that he has won back his freedom. Wye says it is very possible that Ai could be taken to prison again, as "he has not really been released. He will be under a kind of house arrest until a court can make a verdict."

Hong Lei, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said one day after Ai's release that his case was still being investigated. Hong said: "He is not permitted to leave his town nor influence statements made by others. He must not manipulate evidence or collaborate with others to create false testimony." Chinese authorities had accused Ai Weiwei of large-scale tax evasion.

Author: Christoph Ricking / sb
Editor: Manasi Gopalakrishnan