World | Chen Guangcheng Why Chen Left Embassy: China Threatened to Kill Wife He speaks to AP, says he wants to leave country By Kate Seamons Posted May 2, 2012 10:25 AM CDT Copied In this undated photo, blind activist Chen Guangcheng, center, is seen in a village in China. (AP Photo/Supporters of Chen Guangcheng, HO) The plot thickens. Chen Guangcheng today spoke to the AP via phone from his hospital room, and revealed why he actually left the US Embassy: He says an American official shared with him that China threatened to kill Chen's wife if he didn't go. A US official, however, claimed no knowledge of the threat, but did say that Chen was informed his family would be sent home if he remained in the embassy. Chen tells the AP that he now fears for his safety and wants to leave the country. Read These Next It started with failure to say 'thank you,' ended with murder. Mike Johnson is taking heat over a Democrat's delayed swearing-in. It landed on the 4th try. There wasn't enough fuel for a 5th. California governor candidate's testy interview raises eyebrows. Report an error