I have difficulty taking this matter over seriously (as no doubt can be testified too by my previous post on the subject).
A lot of discussion has dealt with the implications and plans in relation to Sino US relations, but I would strongly recommend an article from Peter Lee; who is hardly a friend of Beijing, who presents the story from the fascinating and compelling perspective of the US Internal politics.
Do read the transcripts of the conversation between Chen and his US based lawyer provided via China Aid, the Fundamentalist Christian Organisation, that have spoken for Chen throughout much of this affair.
Indeed the way Chen is linked to the Religious right in the US is itself quite illuminating and Peter writes a compelling account of how this looks like a set up trap to cause Obama to stumble in an election year.
It also illustrates how the likes of Chen can get elevated to Celebrity Dissident status, in the way that he has been built up in the US by Pro Life organisations for his work against forced abortion.
It is perhaps rather chilling to think that in this day and age, that the ultimate relationship between super powers, will not be defined by economics, technology or even political ideology, but simply as a contest between Religious Fundamentalism and Secularism/Atheism.