December 23, 1998 (3:50 p.m. EST) No. 297

CANADA AND OTHER COUNTRIES JOIN IN PROTEST AGAINST HARSH SENTENCING OF CHINESE DISSIDENTS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada had joined Austria, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union in making a joint diplomatic démarche to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, to protest the harsh sentences delivered recently by China to three Chinese dissidents.

"Canada is deeply concerned over the heavy sentences imposed on political dissidents in China," said Mr. Axworthy. "The long prison terms handed out this week to Chinese political activists are not consistent with the October 5, 1998, signature by China of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a development that was welcomed by Canada."

Canada's Ambassador to China participated in the joint political démarche to urge China to release Xu Wenli, Qin Yongmin and Wang Youcai, who were respectively sentenced to 13, 12 and 11 years in prison for their political activities.

"We value the bilateral dialogue that we have established with China on human rights issues," said Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan. "We therefore expect the Chinese authorities to show greater tolerance for the peaceful expression of political views by their citizens."

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