China rejects Western criticism of crackdown on rights defenders
US expressed concern convictions made on apparently politically motivated charges
China rebuked the United States on Saturday for criticising it over the convictions of rights activists, with a Tianjin court last week sentencing three rights advocates and a lawyer to up to 7 ½ years’ jail for subversion.
Dozens of people linked to the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm have been swept up in a crackdown on dissent since last July, as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration has tightened control, citing a need to boost national security and stability.
The sentencing has been condemned by international rights groups as an effort to silence critics.
On Thursday, a State Department spokesman said the United States was concerned about the convictions made on “apparently politically motivated charges”, and called for the release the lawyers and activists.
Threats, torture, intimidation: legal experts raise suspicions of coercion in trials of Chinese rights activists
The European Union also said the conviction of the activists runs contrary to China’s stated commitment to strengthening the rule of law.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the “US accusations are groundless” and urged Washington to “respect the facts”.
