By George Gedda / Associated Press
The Bush administration asked China on July 24 to free two U.S.-based scholars convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison on spy charges. The sentences drew expressions of concern from Secretary of State Colin Powell, just days before his scheduled visit to Beijing.
“We’re following it carefully and we’ll see what happens next,” Powell said after arriving in Vietnam following an 18-hour visit to Japan.
White House spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters: “We continue to call on the Chinese government to release Gao Zhan and Qin Guangguang on humanitarian grounds.
“The State Department continues discussions with the Chinese government about the protection and the rights of our citizens and legal permanent residents,” the spokesman said.
A senior official on Powell’s plane said the United States was dismayed by the guilty verdict in the case of Gao, an American University professor who is a Chinese citizen. The official said the case is certain to come up when Powell visits China on Saturday. The official, speaking only on condition of anonymity, discussed Gao’s case with reporters before China announced the conviction of Qin.
Gao and Qin were charged with spying for Taiwan and endangering Chinese security. Each was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The U.S. official expressed disappointment that China turned down a U.S. request that an American official be allowed to witness Gao’s trial. The United States also expressed concern that the trial lasted only four hours, raising questions about Gao’s ability to mount a defense.
In Washington, Gao’s husband, Xue Donghua, a U.S. citizen, expressed disappointment and surprise at the verdict. He said he worries most about his wife’s physical and emotional health.
“I can’t imagine how ... she is going to take this,” Xue said.
He said he would go to Congress to seek passage of bills that would make Gao a U.S. citizen, saying that would strengthen her position. Gao already has a green card, giving her permanent U.S. residency status.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who sponsors such a bill, said in a speech on July 24: “This bill must be brought forward and we must demand that China understands that academics is not synonymous to spying. It is unfair. It is a tragedy.”
The Bush administration has never contended that Gao was innocent, but instead had expressed hope that she would be allowed to be reunited with her husband and 5-year-old son, who also is an American.
Benjamin Ladner, president of American University, said Gao’s colleagues at the school were very distraught, but brushed off the idea that academics should be worried about sharing information with each other.
“We feel there is a kind of academic freedom... that has to be respected,” Ladner said. He said scholars need to have the right to visit Taiwan and China and share information.
There is a sharp contrast between China’s treatment of Gao and that of Li Shaomin, an American citizen who also was arrested in February and accused of spying for Taiwan. Li was convicted of the charges earlier this month but will be allowed to leave the country under a deportation order. There is no indication that Gao will be allowed to depart.
On Monday, while flying to Japan, Powell used unusually strong language to discuss China’s human rights record. He said the United States is looking for a basic change in China’s attitude toward human rights, and added that China will never become a full fledged member of the international community until it moves toward creating a democratic system.
And in an apparent reference to the cases of Li and Gao, he said it is not enough for China to resolve occasional rights cases that have attracted international attention.
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