Dissident still awaiting sentence in ChinaRadio Austrilia A court in Beijing reportedly has cancelled a sitting in which it was due to contemplate new evidence against a United States-based dissident accused of espionage. The report comes from the Hong-Kong based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy. The dissident is Yang Jianli, a 40-year-old U-S resident whose name is on a Chinese blacklist of people barred from entry. He was detained in April last year after he travelled to China on a friend's passport in an attempt to observe ongoing labor unrest. He first appeared in court in early August, pleading innocent on charges of espionage and illegal entry. Mr Yang's lawyer later said the trial ended without a verdict, with the court saying it needed more time to decide what sentence to mete out. A final decision is required by December 19. AFP says China's handling of Mr Yang's case has been widely criticised by US Congressmen and administration officials. 23/11/2003 13:20:29 | ABC Radio Australia News -------------------------- |