TEXT: STROBE TALBOTT ON CHINA'S SENTENCING OF RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
(U.S. calls on Chinese Government to release all three)Washington -- Acting Secretary of State Strobe Talbott scored the Chinese government for its treatment of three political rights activists in a December 21 statement.
The United States "deeply deplores" the Chinese action, Talbott said in response to the sentencing of the activists to prison terms of 13 years each for Xu Wenli and Qin Yongmin, and 11 years for Wang Youcai.
"The principal activity of these three men that appears to have been the cause of their detention, trial, and sentencing was their effort to form a new political party," Talbott said.
"This form of peaceful political expression deserves the protection of all governments. We not only deplore that they were detained and tried for such actions," Talbott added, "but are deeply disturbed by the long sentences imposed and the lack of due process."
Following is the State Department text:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the SpokesmanDecember 21, 1998
STATEMENT BY STROBE TALBOTT, ACTING SECRETARY
CHINA -- REPORTED SENTENCING OF XU WENLI, WANG YOUCAI, AND QIN YONGMIN
The United States deeply deplores the sentencing of prominent Chinese human rights activists Xu Wenli and Wang Youcai to 13 years and 11 years, respectively, allegedly for subversion and threatening state security, as well as the reported sentence of Qin Yongmin on similar grounds for 13 years. We call upon the Chinese Government to release all three.
The principal activity of these three men that appears to have been the cause of their detention, trial, and sentencing was their effort to form a new political party. This form of peaceful political expression deserves the protection of all governments. We not only deplore that they were detained and tried for such actions but are deeply disturbed by the long sentences imposed and the lack of due process.
The trials of Xu, Wang, and Qin were not open to members of the public who wished to attend or to foreign observers. None was afforded the opportunity to select his own attorney or time to prepare a serious defense. China's obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the obligations it will assume when it ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -- which it has already signed -- require it to protect peaceful political expression and association and to ensure fair public trial.
The United States considers its relationship with China important to global and regional peace and stability and to other important American interests. We will, however, continue to speak out about serious human rights abuses of this kind and continue to make the strengthening of human rights in China a key element of our policy.
(end text)
Return to The United States and China.
Return to USIA International Home Page.