US Vice President Joe Biden is on an official visit to China from August 17 through August 22. The well-known human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng should have finished his five-year probation period, but has been missing for over a year. Gao's wife Geng He hopes that Biden can urge the Chinese Communist authorities to release Gao Zhisheng. She also calls upon the international community to continue to focus on Gao's safety. During his visit, Biden will meet with the communist party (CCP) leaders Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Xi Jinping. Voice of America said Biden's visit will focus on economic issues, human rights, Taiwan and Tibetan issues. Lael Brainard, the United States Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, said that Biden would continue to put pressure on China regarding the exchange rate issue. Texas-based Christian group China Aid Association called upon Biden to urge the Chinese authorities to release Gao. On Aug. 15, President of European Parliament Jerzy Buzek issued a written statement saying that the CCP's treatment of Gao is unacceptable. "We fear the worst." Buzek called on the CCP authorities to respect basic human rights and international law, and release Gao immediately. As a lawyer, Gao has represented Falun Dafa practitioners, house churches and evicted residents in sensitive cases. In 2005, Gao wrote three petition letters to the CCP leaders to uncover the brutal persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. He also called for an immediate ...