China rejects diplomatic links to artist's release

Jun 23, 2011, 9:30 GMT

Beijing - China on Thursday denied that its release on bail of artist and activist Ai Weiwei was linked to international pressure or to high-profile diplomatic meetings scheduled in the next few days.

Ai's case was handled acording to Chinese law and not influenced by other factors, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said when asked if the decision to free Ai was linked to Premier Wen Jiabao's trip to Britain, Germany and Hungary, which is to begin Saturday.

'China is a country ruled by law, so China's judicial departments handle the case independently according to the law,' Hong said.

Hong made a similar comment when asked if Ai's release Wednesday night was a result of international pressure on China.

'We hope relevant countries can respect China's judicial sovereignty,' he added. 'China's judicial sovereignty will not allow any interference.'

International rights groups said China appeared to have released Ai in response to growing pressure from foreign politicians, media, artists and activists.

The rights groups said the release could be timed to coincide with Wen's visit to Europe and a US-China strategic dialogue scheduled in Hawaii Saturday.

The Chinese government's official Xinhua news agency quoted a police statement as saying Ai, 54, was 'released on bail because of his good attitude in confessing his crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from.'

Ai, who has diabetes and high blood pressure, is one of China's most-recognized contemporary artists and was involved in the design of the Bird's Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

His arrest came as part of a broad crackdown on dissent that started after calls for 'jasmine-style' anti-government protests in Chinese cities, like recent popular demonstrations in Arab countries.