US call for China activists' release

23 January 2014 Last updated at 15:56 GMT

China corruption: US ambassador calls for campaigners' release

Mr Zhao's lawyer, Zhang Xuezhong (right) argued with plain-clothed policemen on his way to the trial

The United States has expressed concern at the trials of anti-corruption activists in China and called for them to be freed.

The US ambassador in Beijing, Gary Locke, said the cases were "retribution for their campaigns to expose official corruption".

His statement came as a second activist, Zhao Changqing, appeared in court in Beijing.

Another member of the same network, Xu Zhiyong, went on trial on Wednesday.

"I am deeply concerned that the 22 January trial of Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhiyong and the prosecution of other good-governance advocates are retribution for their public campaigns to expose official corruption and for the peaceful expression of their views," Mr Locke said in a statement.

"The United States government calls on Chinese authorities to release Xu and other political prisoners immediately, to cease any restrictions on their freedom of movement, and to guarantee them the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China's international human rights commitments."

Mr Locke also criticised "the mistreatment" of foreign journalists trying to cover the Xu trial.

Public order

In the second trial in as many days, Zhao Changqing appeared before judges charged with disturbing public order. He faces a possible prison sentence of up to five years.

Proceedings were adjourned after he dismissed his lawyer, Zhang Xuezhong, who told reporters that this was designed to delay the trial. Mr Zhao now has 15 days to choose a new lawyer.

Mr Zhao is a member of the New Citizens' Movement, an organisation campaigning for officials to declare their assets, led by Mr Xu. Several other members are due to be tried.

Members of the movement maintain that they were supporting President Xi Jinping's high-profile campaign against corruption, the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing reports.

Policemen guarded the entrance to the Beijing court when Mr Zhao's trial was held

But with the activists now on trial, the ruling Communist Party is clearly showing that it will not tolerate any challenge to its authority, our correspondent adds.

Hou Xin, another member, pleaded not guilty at her trial, her lawyer said.

Rights groups have described the crackdown on activists as hypocritical.

Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said on Tuesday: "While Xi Jinping has spoken a lot about tackling corruption and there have been some high-profile arrests, the government has harshly retaliated against those who exposed high-level corruption in the government and party."

Meanwhile, Wang Gongquan, a wealthy businessman considered a key supporter of the movement, was released on bail on Wednesday after confessing to "inciting the criminal activity of assembling a crowd to disrupt public order with Xu Zhiyong", a Beijing court said on its verified microblog.

Mr Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, described the court's posting as a "complete distortion of facts".

'A better China'

A known legal scholar, Mr Xu also campaigned on behalf of inmates on death row and families affected by tainted baby milk formula in 2009.

At his trial on Wednesday, he initially refused to speak in court because he viewed the proceedings as illegal, his lawyer said.

However, he later spoke for about 10 minutes before he was interrupted by the judge, reports said.

An account of Mr Xu's closing statement was posted online by an activist website and the Chinese language version of Radio France Internationale.

In the account, Mr Xu reportedly said: "By trying to suppress the New Citizens Movement, you are obstructing China on its path to becoming a constitutional democracy through peaceful change.

"Our faith in the idea of building a better China, one of democracy, rule of law, freedom, justice, and love, is unwavering."