Beijing: Five years after his detention, the United States is calling for the release of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo and an end to his wife's undeclared house arrest.
Washington remains deeply concerned about the couple's treatment, along with that of other jailed government critics, Secretary of State John Kerry said.
“We strongly urge Chinese authorities to release Liu Xiaobo, to end (wife) Liu Xia's house arrest, and to guarantee to Liu Xiaobo and his family members all internationally recognized human rights protections and freedoms,” Kerry said in a statement issued Monday in Washington.
“As the United States builds a constructive relationship with China, U.S. leaders will continue to raise concerns related to respect for the rule of law, human rights, religious freedom, and democratic principles with their Chinese counterparts,” Kerry said.
Beijing has rejected Washington's appeals as interference in its domestic affairs, and while it says Liu Xiaobo was duly convicted of subversion, it has refused to offer any legal basis for the house arrest of Liu Xia, who friends say has grown despondent at being virtually confined to her apartment for the past three years.
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