BEIJING (AFP) — China on Sunday dismissed EU criticism of its decision to execute a medical scientist accused of spying for Taiwan, saying the comments would not help dialogue on human rights, state media reported.
In the latest issue to highlight Europe and China's differing views on human rights, Beijing accused the EU of interfering in its judicial procedures.
"Chinese judicial organs made the verdict and this was completely a matter within the Chinese judicial sovereignty," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement released by the Xinhua news agency.
"The trial procedure was just and fair and the rights of the accused were well protected," Qin said. "The evidence of his crime has been verified.
"The accusation against the Chinese judicial authorities intervened brutally into Chinese judicial sovereignty... and undermine the basis of the healthy development of the bilateral talks on human rights," he said.
Scientist Wo Weihan, 59, was executed on Friday, prompting strong criticism from Brussels and Washington, who had appealed to China to spare his life.
The 27-nation European Union said the execution "seriously undermines the spirit of trust and mutual respect required for this EU-China dialogue on human rights."
Wo, who lived in Austria between 1990 and 1997, was arrested in Beijing in January 2005. He was charged with giving military information to Taiwan, including plans for missiles.
The biochemist, who denied the charges, was sentenced to death in May 2007 after being convicted of passing state secrets.
His trial was criticised by non-governmental organisations, who said evidence was vague and the process lacked transparency.
Last week China blamed France in a separate row, this time over Tibet, that led to the unprecedented scrapping of a summit with European leaders.
Beijing on Wednesday decided to postpone the summit with the European Union, scheduled for next week in France, in protest at plans by EU leaders to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
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