U.S. Urges China to Release Xu Zhiyong and Other Political Prisoners

The United States is calling on China to immediately release Dr. Xu Zhiyong, winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, along with a new set of political prisoners recently put on trial in China. On Thursday, Ambassador Gary Locke said these civil rights activists have been brought to trial in China in retaliation for their work in uncovering government corruption. Recently, Chinese authorities have brought a new set of civil rights activists to trial.

On Wednesday the founder of the "New Citizens Activist Group" and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Xu stood trial. On Thursday another activist, Zhao Chongqing was in front of the courts. Amb. Locke said "I am closely following the trial of Dr. Xu as well as other civil rights activists, who have been put on trial for uncovering corruption within the government, or who are facing charges for freely expressing their personal views."

"The American government urges Chinese authorities to immediately release Dr. Xu as well as other political prisoners and to put an end to the restrictions on their activism, and to ensure that they enjoy freedom and human rights as China has already promised they would in past international treaties for human rights and freedom," he continued. In his statement, Amb. Locke also criticized Chinese authorities for their treatment of foreign journalists who had called the trial "unjust." Since last year Dr. Xu's "New Citizens Activist Group" has already seen 20 of its members arrested and are currently being brought to trial.

Many activists are criticizing the current government under President Xi Jinping as being hypocritical. Despite a public effort to stand against corruption by President Xi over the past few months, many believe the "self policing" is far too limited.

Human rights organizations note that when it comes to the corruption at high levels of the CCP, or regarding any threat to one party rule, this government is just as intolerant as any other before it.