2003

Family calls for release of US man arrested on visa violations in China

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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August 5, 2003 1. Christina Fu, wife of detained Chinese democracy advocate, Yang Jianli, and Jared Genser open office door on Capitol Hill and enter office 2. Christina Fu and Jared Genser talking, zoom out to show office and Paul Wilkinson 3. Christina Fu June 6, 2003 4. Still photograph of Dr. Yang and his son 5. Still photograph of Dr. Yang August 5, 2003 6. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Christina Fu, Wife of Dr. Yang Jianli: "Between now and then, we're going to continue especially with the US government, talks with some officials in the administration to find out how the Bush administration stands on this." June 6, 2003 7. Various of still photograph of Dr. Yang Jianli and family August 5, 2003 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jared Genser, Lawyer for Christina Fu: "That China is beginning to comply its obligations within the World Trade Organisation, clearly China understands the rule of law as it impacts their economic relationships and we would just suggest that it begin to look more closely at rule of law as it relates to human rights, as it relates to social relationships, as well. Clearly China is capable of doing this and if China is, you know, to evolve into this behemoth of spectacular country in terms of its economic development and achievement for it to really reach its full potential, you know, it needs to recognise that dissent is something that's going to occur in a population of over a billion people." 9. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Christina Fu, Wife of Chinese dissident Yang Jianli: "I talked to my lawyer, Mo Shaoping, on the phone, and he told me it went well. My husband was given enough time to finish his statement and they did three rounds of questions and my lawyer was able to ask questions. To him, he felt like he won the case." 10. Fu, Genser and Wilkinson in office STORYLINE: In Washington DC, the wife and legal team for Chinese democracy advocate, Yang Jianli, continued to push for his release from a Chinese prison one day after his trial in Beijing. Doctor Yang's wife, Christina Fu and Jared Genser met with staff members of the Republican House Policy Committee. The chairman of the committee, Congressman Chris Cox, has been active in seeking Congressional resolutions condemning the Chinese government for holding Yang. On Monday, Yang pleaded not guilty during a three-hour, closed trial at the Beijing Number Two Intermediate Court. Yang is accused of espionage for the Nationalist Government on Taiwan, as well as entering the country illegally and using another person's passport. Yang, a Chinese citizen with permanent United States (U.S.) residency, runs a foundation in Boston that advocates political change in China. He was detained in April 2002 after visiting China to meet other activists and laid-off workers. Yang's Chinese lawyer in Beijing, Mo Shaoping, told Yang's wife that the trial went well, that he was able to ask questions and that Yang was able to read his statement. Now, both the wife of Yang and his legal defence team are waiting for a verdict, and sentencing from the Chinese court. A court spokesman said he couldn't confirm whether the trial took place because it was closed to the public. Trials in China usually last no more than a day, but it can take weeks for judges to consider the case before issuing a ruling. The verdict is expected to be announced within the next six weeks followed by sentencing. The US Congress has passed a resolution calling for Yang's immediate and unconditional release. A United Nations committee also ruled in June that Yang's detention violates international law because Chinese authorities failed to give him a fair trial or access to a lawyer. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/2c3eff54738caa2d42a0e46bcfdd5149 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork