WASHINGTON : US lawmakers warned China's President Hu Jintao that bilateral ties could suffer if Beijing does not release a noted US-based Chinese dissident reportedly mistreated in prison. Some 67 legislators issued the warning in a letter to Hu as they marked the second year in detention of Yang Jianli, 40. He was detained on April 26, 2002 when he traveled to China on a friend's passport in an attempt to observe ongoing labor unrest. The US embassy in Beijing meanwhile has spoken directly with the Chinese government about Yang's case, Republican Party lawmaker Christopher Cox said, citing Vice President Dick Cheney. "We strongly object to your government's severely harsh treatment of Yang Jianli," the legislators said in the letter to Hu, in which they expressed "serious concern" over the imprisonment and "outrage" over reported "inhumane treatment" of the dissident. "The great pain and anguish that this is causing his family and wife and two young children, will make it increasingly difficult for us to focus on the many other important aspects of our bilateral relationship," they said. China's handling of Yang's case has been widely criticized in the past by US lawmakers and administration officials, with Congress having passed non-binding resolutions calling for his release. Yang was allegedly thrown into solitary confinement recently after he failed to comply with some detention rules. "We understand that when Dr. Yang was removed from solitary confinement, he remained handcuffed until his wrists began to bleed," the legislators said in their letter. Opposition Democratic Party legislator Barney Frank said at a solemn Capitol Hill function Monday to mark Yang's two-year detention that Congress might have to retaliate with a tougher stand on the Taiwan and Hong Kong issues if the dissident was not freed. China had asked Washington not to back attempts by Taiwan and Hong Kong to push for greater autonomy from China. Frank said the US legislature could push harder for Taiwan's admission into the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan is planning to renew its bid to join WHO as an observer when the World Health Assembly meets in Geneva on May 17, despite seeing seven previous attempts blocked by rival China. The island was forced out of WHO in 1972, a year after it lost its seat at the United Nations to China. China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, is opposed to all forms of diplomatic recognition for the island. Washington respects Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China and has no diplomatic relations with Taipei. Cox said that the International Olympic Committee, which monitors China's preparation to host the 2005 Olympic Games, as well as democratic leaders in Hong Kong could be roped into backing the campaign to free Yang. Frank said China could not seek friendly bilateral relations with the United States and at the same time "mistreat" Yang, who enjoys permanent US residency. Yang's wife, Christina, and two children, aged eight and 10, were present at the function at Capitol Hill.
-------------------------- |
